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+-+--+-+--+-+ VOLUME SEVEN NUMBER FOUR
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+___________+ FFFFF SSS FFFFF N N EEEEE TTTTT
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| ++ | F S F NN N E T
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| ++ | FFF SSS FFF N N N EEE T
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| | F S F N NN E T
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|_________| F SSS F N N EEEEE T
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/___________\ ==========================================
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| | BITNET Fantasy-Science Fiction Fanzine
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___|___________|___ X-Edited by 'Orny' Liscomb <CSDAVE@MAINE>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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CONTENTS
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X-Editorial 'Orny' Liscomb
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A Death in the Attic Jeff Girard
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Lifesong Aiwu Lian
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Shakka! H.D. Baumeister
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Seer's Doom John L. White
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Ceda the Executioner: 5 Joel Slatis
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Idol John L. White
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Date: 033087 Dist: 312
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An "*" indicates story is part of the Dargon Project
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All original materials copyrighted by the author(s)
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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X-Editorial
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Hello one and all! No really exciting or motivating news to
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report, so I'll just jump into a description of this issue. There is
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no Dargon work in this issue, although you'll find a couple choice
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tidbits from some unexpected sources. However, for those of you who
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actually enjoy the Dargon material, here's a hint of what's in the
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works for the near future! John White is working on a new tale which
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I have seen parts of, and it promises to be a classic. Joseph Curwen
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is plowing through the next tale in the Atros cycle, which should
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also be out soon. I am, of course, humbly plugging away at my story,
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which should be ready very soon (no promises, however).
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It is at the close of the editorial that I historically welcome
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our new readers and emplore people to spread the word about FSFnet.
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Well, as we have over 300 readers who get the file directly and
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uncounted millions (?) who get the magazine from servers, secondary
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distribution sites, and who knows where else, I've decided that I
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can finally sit back and pass up the opportunity to remind you to
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help get others interested in FSFnet. Of course, this doesn't mean
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you should stop spreading the word...
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-'Orny' Liscomb <CSDAVE @ MAINE>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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A Death in the Attic
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Tina slowly closed the door behind her and proceeded up the
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attic steps. The fading light of the autumn sunset cast a beaming
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ray through the only window that caused all it touched to shimmer
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with a golden hue, while at the same time it cast dark, forboding
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shadows about all that were out of its reach. Tina paused for a
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moment, and smiled to herself at the sheer irony of it. How much it
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was like her own situation now.
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She flicked on the light, and immediately all but the most
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hidden corners were were bright and visible. She stepped around the
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trunk which held her mother's wedding gown and high school
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yearbooks, crossed over her grandfather's antique clarinet, and
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stopped in front of a small coffer. She paused for a moment, then
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reaced for it and undid the latch. Trembling, she opened the
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silver-lined box and picked up the ring that lay inside. It looked
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ordinary enough - carved out of silver with a ring of rubies and
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emeralds encircling a medium sized diamond in the center. Definitely
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a treasure by any standards, but also much more. Tina held the ring
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tightly in her hand, and thought once more about what she was about
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to do. She had spent the last hour just trying to decide what to
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say. She was sure this was what she wanted, but at the same time she
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couldn't help but feel a great dread deep in her soul, and for a
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moment considered just putting the ring back and forgetting the
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whole ordeal. At the same time, the caring nature of her soul kept
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crying out for her to do it, that this was the greatest thing she
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could ever do. Eventually, her caring side won out. She unclenched
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her hands and slid the ring on her finger. At the same time she
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glanced at her watch. It read 6:47. She would have to hurry, or she
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would be late for her job.
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She closed her eyes and concentrated on the ring, just like she
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had accidentally done earlier today. In a moment, she felt a small
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gust of wind, and then heard the voice. "Yes, Tina Redgrave, have
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you thought of your first wish yet?"
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She opened her eyes, and gazed directly at the man she had just
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met a little over an hour ago. He stood about six feet high, with
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dark black hair and a very heavy build which matched his voice. A
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nearly perfect specimen of a man, and Tina felt the same surge
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within her again. This time, however, she was prepared and replied,
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"Yes, I have."
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"And what is your wish?"
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"My first wish is this: I wish there was no longer any death."
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The man frowned. "Have you thought long and seriously about
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this? Are you absolutely sure that this is what you want."
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For a moment she considered crying out No, I'll think of
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something else. But when she thought about all the suffering she
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could alleviate with just that one phrase, she had to do it. "Yes,
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I'm sure. That is my first wish."
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The man sighed. "It shall be as you have it." He gestured into
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the air, and a huge spark of energy flew from his fingertips out the
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window and disappeared from sight. "Are you ready for your next wish?"
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Tina, still staring at where the energy ball had passed through
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the window, jumped slightly and said, "No, I'll have to think on my
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next one too. How about if I call you again tomorrow morning?"
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"Whatever you wish, Tina Redgrave," he said, then faded away
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into nothingness.
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Tina took off the ring, placed it in the coffer, closed it, and
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then rushed downstairs. It was now 6:50. If she hurried, she still
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could get dressed and make it to Kmart before her 7:30 shift.
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Tina could hardly keep in her excitement as she jumped out of
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her car and practically flew into the store with minutes to spare.
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She took off her coat and walked briskly over to her station at
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booth number nine. Stacey, the girl who worked the previous shift,
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was standing there totalling up the price of an old man's sweater
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and pipe.
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"Hi Stacey, how's it going tonight?"
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She turned and smiled, but there was a note of concern on her
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face. "Hi, Tina. You seem awfully bubbly tonight. Here you go sir,
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and thank you for shopping at Kmart."
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The man walked past them with his purchases. Tina looked at
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Stacey carefully and said, "What's wrong? And don't you dare say
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nothing - I know you better than that!"
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Stacey turned up the portable radio she kept next to her.
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"Haven't you heard? Listen to this."
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Bill Artwood, the local news reporter, was talking. "-admitted
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just a few mere minutes ago. Apparently, he was the victim of a
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mugging in Central park. He has suffered multiple stab wounds,
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including one right through his left lung, but is still alive. He
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has been placed under heavy sedation, but the doctors don't expect
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him to live. They were totally amazed that he lived this long.
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Whether this has any connection to the terrible accident on James
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and Third is unknown."
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"James and Third? That's nowhere near Central park. What does he
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mean about a connection?"
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"You didn't hear? You mean you didn't listen to the radio on the
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way down to here?"
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"No, the time kind of flew by for me today."
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"Well, at about 7:00, I guess you would have been on your way
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soon after, a tractor-trailer lost its brakes and plowed straight
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through a red light into a small Subaru. The Subaru was flattened.
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Of course a big pile-up occured, and three more cars were
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demolished. But the strange part is, no one died. The two people in
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the Subaru were horribly mangled, and another had his rib cage
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completely collapse against the steering wheel, but all of them were
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fully alive and conscious too. they were screaming, those that
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could. One paramedic was so sick he had to leave the rescue team for
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a while - Tina? Are you OK, Tina?"
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Tina just stood, shocked. What could have gone wrong? How could
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this be happening? This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen.
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She had said, I wish there was no more dying, and- no, that wasn't
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what she said. She heard her own words now as plainly as if she was
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in her attic again - "I wish there was no more death." She hadn't
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said dying, she had said death. She turned hard and ran for the door.
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"Tina? What's wrong? Tina?..."
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Tina pulled into the driveway and leaped out of the car. Her
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keys fumbled with the lock, and it took her three tries to unlock
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the front door. Finally she succeeded and slammed open the door, not
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even bothering to get her keys. She ran inside, up the stairs to the
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second floor, and into the attic. switching on the light, she
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stumbled her way across the littered floor to the coffer. Tears were
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streaming down her eyes now as she put the ring on her finger and
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concentrated. In a moment the man appeared again. "Yes, Tina
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Redgrave, have you thought of your second wish?"
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"I want to change my first wish!" she nearly screamed. "I didn't
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mean to say it that way except that I was so excited but that wasn't
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what I meant to say and you've got to change it, please!"
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He looked at her with a gaze that chilled her to the bone, and
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she quieted down. "Normally, you could use another wish to undo a
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previous wish, but this is a slightly different case. You wished for
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there to be no more death, so I destroyed him."
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"Him? What do you mean, him?"
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"Death is an entity whose touch causes the soul to be released
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from the body. Without him, all souls are bound to their hosts, and
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can't die. This doesn't mean they can't be hurt. They just can't die."
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"Well, bring him back! That isn't what I meant to say!"
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"If it was a normal person or thing, I could. However, death is
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an entity of great power, and it will take time to create him again."
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"How long?"
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"I would say about 36 hours."
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"36 hours? But what about all those people out there who are
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supposed to be dead now? I can't simply let them go on suffering!"
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"You could find a replacement."
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"What?"
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"A replacement. Someone who could temporarily take death's place
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until I can re-create him."
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"How? Do I just walk up to someone and say, 'Hey, this genie
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just granted me a wish and I wished for no more death so he
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destroyed him and now we need a replacement'? I hardly think that
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will go over.
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"I'm afraid that that's your problem."
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Tina thought for a moment, then came up with an idea. "Alright,
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here's my second wish. Let me become death while you try to recreate
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the original."
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"As you wish, Tina Redgrave." He waved his arm, and suddenly
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Tina felt different. She was dressed in black robes. She looked at
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her hands, and saw that they were nothing but bones. Suddenly, she
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felt a surge of power, and knew what had to be done. She flew out
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the window at an incredible speed and soon found herself next to an
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old man in a hospital bed. She touched him, and a white globe
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floated up skyward. She then flew across the continent and touched a
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young boy just as he hit the ground after leaping from the eleventh
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floor of a hotel. His soul floated out of his body. Then she flew
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elsewhere, again and again for thirty-eight hours without a stop.
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When she was caught up, she used her powers to temporarily stop time
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for a while, then flew back to her attic.
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She stood for a moment, shocked and appalled by all she had
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seen. Some people she had to touch were in such a horrible shape
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that she felt like throwing up her last dinner, except that death
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couldn't do that of course. She walked over to the coffer, opened it
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up, and put on the ring. In a moment, the genie appeared. "Yes,
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death, can I help you?"
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"OK, here's my third wish. Return me to normal and let death
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resume his job. I'll never forgive myself for wasting my wishes, but
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I guess it's too late to change that now."
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"I'm sorry, death, but I can not help you. My services are
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currently being given to a young woman named Tina Redgrave. You are
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not Tina Redgrave, you are death." With that he vanished into thin
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air, leaving death to stand and bemuse the fate befallen on her.
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-Jeff Girard <IP60523 @ PORTLAND>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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Lifesong
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Viam ad Infinitum
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Space...a void not empty. Planets and moons, followers of the
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great ones, the stars, move in time with the great music which is
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not heard with their children, the comets and asteroids. These ride
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the coattails of their parents, occasionally breaking away to amuse
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themselves with the games of the innocence of youth before becoming
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planets themselves and taking the orbits planned for them. The
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planets for the most part cared only for themselves, but the stars
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were constantly shining light upon them all, and because of it many
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of the planets reflected the light of the great sun and began to
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live, and walk toward the path of becoming a star.
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There stood in the darkness of night and the cold of death,
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alone in a prison of metal a man, with his face in the direction of
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the east, eyes shut, waiting. Flint-faced and unmoving in the icy
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wind of Altus V which probed with invisible fingers any living
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flesh, his clothing could not keep out the intangible members
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feeding on his comatose mind. It was dark, the dark of a remote
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planet near the edge of the universe; no stars and no moon shone on
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the forbidding ebony landscape. The man's gloved hands were nearly
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frozen to the bars they clutched, the heavily booted feet were a
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part of the deck on which he stood. All was utterly silent. Behind
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eyes shut and ice-coated, there was blackness.
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The sky before his face suddenly grayed, casting upon the face
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of the watcher. Slowly but steadily the horizon paled, and the forms
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of a few unhealthy clouds appeared, a dirty white. Now the winds had
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ceased to blow, though still the landscape was anything but
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appealing... and with the luminescence a smell became apparent to
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frigid nostrils: the smell of death and rot, of terror. Exposed by
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the steadily-brightening light was an expanse of bare rock pocked
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with the remains of plants and animals long vanquished. Bones and
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ash, fragments of unburned roots and cinders adorned the surface of
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the dead planet.
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Now the glow of the firmament grew more quickly, showing the
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black of his robe, tunic, and trousers. A cape of red completed the
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costume, and his gloves and boots were likewise as unliving blood.
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Black hair, moustache and long beard, caked with ice, testified
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somewhat to his middle age. ragged clouds of moisture escaped his
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lips, though there was no other sign of life in him, and this but
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infrequent.
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But behold! for at this time, a voice carrying one wonderful
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note of music quiet yet powerful, was imposed upon the world,
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drowning the sounds of silence. The sweet voice increased its
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volume, and the grey of the edge of the horizon glowed faintly
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pink... it increased again; the planet shuddered. Yet again. And the
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planet shook this time; and reaching its peak the music of the
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morning shattered the walls of silence! As the walls of ancient
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Jericho they crumbled before the trumpet's blast, the mighty Singer.
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The first streaks of color ripped apart the grey of the
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sky...fragments of cloud disintegrating, the heavens burst into
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flame. On Jason's world the sun rose.
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And as it then looked upon the planet, there appeared at the
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man's feet, green in the midst of the destruction. A single flower
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of blue and gold grew, bloomed, and around it sprang up grasses and
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flowers of every kind, until the surface of the world was covered
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with the fresh, living color and there was no trace of the former
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cataclysm! Now also began trees to sprout, and there were forests of
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mighty Sylvan specimens to rule over and care for their younger
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cousins and remove from the air the horrible stink. When this was
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accomplished, it was yet the first hour of morning. The note which
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had broken the walls of death and darkness now became Song. In sweet
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liquid voices it flowed over Altus Five and collected into paths and
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channels, where followed cool water for the sake of the living things.
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Now Jason had not moved in all the time previous, being nearly
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dead from the cold but the rays of the sun focused upon him and the
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song once more changed. Now growing bold and strong, beauty became
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handsome; the music washed over him as the rains of the spring. A
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drop of filthy water dripped from beard and fingertip, moustache and
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boot, and collected at his feet in a growing pool of red.
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And as this man's flesh began to live, yet another wondrous
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thing happened. As the Song washed his flesh, the powerful light of
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the sun also washed over him...and the dye of his garments faded to
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be replaced by a sparkling white. Trembling with all the excitement
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of a newborn, the emerging butterfly which sees light after so long
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in darkness, the eyes of gold opened; Jason began to live. And there
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was much rejoicing in the galaxy, and the sun and the song were
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happy at these works and rejoiced long. For after years in the grip
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of death a man gained the eternal life of one whose soul has seen
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the morning.
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-Aiwu Lian <IP60149 @ PORTLAND>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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Shakka!
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It was a day as any other, Jardell awoke to the smell of
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smoldering wood outside his father's campaign tent. His mother
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quietly rattled with her pots and spoons which she used to prepare
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breakfast. He gently attempted to recall the dreams of the night
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before, but he could not fathom their nature. Then he remembered
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that today was to be a special day: He would go on a hunt with his
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friends of the surrounding tents, and Lenda, daughter of Jast, the
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merchant travelling with them for their protection, would join them
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at a secret meeting place later in the day. Lenda's father was a
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coward, and as Jardell thought of this large, heavy man with the
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constantly dirty hair, a jeer spread across his face. The only
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reason why he let Jast treat him as he did was because of Jardell's
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desire for Lenda's love. Today would be the day of fulfillment.
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He smiled as he thought of the day's plans: He and the gang
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would go out to track down a few coyotes and maybe even attempt to
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kill and hide one, just so as to be able to show that they had
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indeed done something useful upon their return. However, hey would
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cease this activity as soon as the sun reached it's peak and would
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then meander to the Shakka tree a league away from their camp.
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Shakka trees were strange creatures: They were plants, but then they
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weren't. Whoever sat within it's Sphere of Dreaming, or Shadow as it
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was called by the elders, would mindlink with the Shakka entity
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which, according to legend, resided not in the tree itself, but in
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the netherworld - reputedly near Odin's Valhalla. This, mixed with
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the lack of factual knowledge, made Shakka-sitting, as it was
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called, a very adventurous thing to do. The elders forbade it, the
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young ones craved it. It was addicting, to an extent, but not to the
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point where one could not rip oneself free from the Shakka's grasp.
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Once mindlink was established, the Shakka would, upon deposition of
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a small part of one's lifeforce, create any phantastic circumstance
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one desired. One could reenact anything one could imagine, and
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always escape unscathed, as the Shakka thrived on lifeforce, and
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would not destroy his guests for fear of them not returning should
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they be mentally scarred. The elders disapproved of such unworldly
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pleasures, as deposition of a fragment of lifeforce weakened the
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character and shortened one's lifespan, or so they said. Also, there
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had been reports of Shakka's that had extracted all of a guest's
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lifeforce while they were journeying in the land of make-believe.
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Such stories were told by hardcore users to Virgin Dreamers, as
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first time users were always called.
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Today would be different from other Dreamtimes, however, at
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least for Jardell and Lenda. They would commence to make their way
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to man and womanhood while in the shadow of the Shakka. It was
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considered the ultimate act of love to copulate in it's shadow, and
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Jardell had always desired for his Passing to be of such a high
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caliber. He was excited and fearful, and for the first time since
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the plan had evolved out of their young minds did he discover doubts
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in his mind. His father had concluded his Passing in the same
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manner, much to the disapproval of the elders afterwards, and he had
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given Jardell only one piece of advice on the matter: "Wait until
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you feel that it may be the wrong thing to do - then you will know
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that you are ready...". These words reverberated through Jardell's
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young head over and over, pushing tears from his eyes and causing
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him to tremble all over his body. He wanted to call it off; he
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suddenly thought it was the wrong thing to do after all. He would
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tell Lenda that he didn't think it was such a good idea, she would
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certainly understand.
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After having dressed and eaten breakfast, he quickly gathered
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his hunting implements and headed for the meeting place just outside
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the camp. Two of his friends were already there, evidently in eager
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anticipation of the day's coming events as they hastily greeted
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Jardell and then went back to discussing any possible evasive
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actions should such be required. Jardell sat next to Rhun, one of
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his better friends and inquired why they were even considering such
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possibilities, as they all knew the Shakka was their private secret.
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"Because, Jardell, one of the elders COULD have found the Shakka
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on one of his spiritual walks. It is unlikely, but possible. It is
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true that we planned this well by telling your father that we would
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be hunting coyotes by the old cave, as that one can draw a straight
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line from the Shakka to the cave, and it will pass right through the
|
|
camp, but all possibilities MUST be considered!" Rhun had always
|
|
been a pessimist. In either case, Jardell had already made up his
|
|
mind that he would not make the Passing under the Shakka's shadow
|
|
after all, so all that could happen to them is mild reprimand. The
|
|
other two participants in their campaign arrived soon after, and
|
|
they set out for the old cave.
|
|
The trip lasted an hour, which was normal for Drytime, and their
|
|
waterskins were soon depleted. They arrived at the old cave and
|
|
promptly made their way to the hidden stream inside to refill their
|
|
water supply and to quench their thirst. Then they sat upon the cold
|
|
clay floor of the main dome and proceeded to devour their brought
|
|
rations hungrily.
|
|
After a short rest, they headed out to hunt coyotes. They needed
|
|
not search long, as their tracking and hunting skills were much
|
|
improved from the previous year. They had soon entrapped a confused
|
|
dog in their midst and were jabbing the snarling animal with their
|
|
spears. As they continued their deadly game with the doomed
|
|
creature, they debated who should give the fatal blow. It was
|
|
decided that Jardell should do so, as he would be consummating
|
|
Lenda's love and completing his Passing on this day. All involved
|
|
smiled jealously as the decision was passed, all except for Jardell
|
|
who blushed. He nodded silently, saying nothing about the decision
|
|
he had met earlier. He prepared for the deadly blow, and the others
|
|
tightened the circle about the crazed animal. Jardell aimed and
|
|
thrust his spear at the coyote's head, thrusting with all his might.
|
|
The thrust struck the animal beneath the right eye and glanced off.
|
|
The entire group fell silent for a split second - a glancing blow
|
|
during a hunt was an omen that any decisions passed that day were
|
|
bad. Jardell fell back in horror - only he knew that the omen could
|
|
apply directly. The others fired him up, yelling to complete the
|
|
kill, and Jardell thrust again. This time, the coyote was stuck
|
|
squarely in the eye; the spear head pierced it's brain and a shower
|
|
of blood burst forth from it's nostrils as it jerked in a few
|
|
spastic motions and finally remained still. The boys gathered about
|
|
the dead animal and congratulated Jardell on his excellent kill.
|
|
None even thought of the omen, no one thought it applied, no one but
|
|
Jardell, and while he shook his friend's hands, he quietly thought
|
|
about his decision this morning. He felt a nudge beneath his
|
|
stomach, and suddenly the decision not to follow the plan was wiped
|
|
from his mind. He began to smile in eager anticipation and
|
|
disemboweled the coyote with such fervor that it even surprised
|
|
Rhun, who knew Jardell to be the hardworking type under all that
|
|
lazyness. The carcass was skinned and the hide was hung up to dry.
|
|
Rhun built a fire and stuck five neatly cut pieces of coyote meat on
|
|
a thick stick which was kept in the storage area of the cavern. The
|
|
boys gathered about the fire and began the almost ritualistic
|
|
telling of stories. One could tell that they were all ready for the
|
|
Passing, but only one member of a Circle of Friendship was allowed
|
|
to do so every phase of the moon. Soon the time to travel to the
|
|
Shakka came and they gathered their posessions and wandered off.
|
|
Jardell wore the completely dried hide about his waist, a feature of
|
|
the ritual for which he was thankful for, as it helped him hide his
|
|
display of anticipation.
|
|
At the start of their trek the sun was still high in the sky,
|
|
but going around the camp to an area roughly the same distance from
|
|
it as the old cave took a long time and when they finally arrived at
|
|
the Shakka, the sun was just an hour away from setting. There was no
|
|
breeze, and the Shakka's huge stationary form sent a shudder down
|
|
even the most expert user's spine. It's branches were grotesquely
|
|
twisted arms that reached out toward the boys in blind desperation.
|
|
Even though they were out of the Shakka's mindlink shadow, the
|
|
unworldly creature could still transmit empathic emotions to them.
|
|
It was hungry for their life force, that much was obvious. Jardell
|
|
began to think of the stories told by the elders about Shakkas
|
|
devouring the entire lifeforce of a user while he or she was under
|
|
the Shakka's influence. He shuddered: Such stories were merely used
|
|
to try to scare them away from the strange dreamlike state that the
|
|
tree produced.
|
|
They were to meet Lenda when the sun fell behind the horizon, so
|
|
they sat atop a nearby rock and wearily gazed at the Shakka. "I
|
|
don't like what I just felt close to Shakka!" Rhun said. The others
|
|
nodded in agreement, but Jardell thought differently.
|
|
"Guys," he said, "we're just overwrought with anticipation,
|
|
that's all... I don't think there will be a problem. We never had
|
|
one with the Shakka before, I don't see why we should now!" The
|
|
group fell into silent thought which was only interrupted with the
|
|
spectacular display that rippled across the clouds covering the
|
|
horizon: The sun was dying and spilling its blood into the white
|
|
cloud cover. They gazed in awe at the spectacular display and only
|
|
Jardell noticed that the Shakka was moving. He wordlessly pointed it
|
|
out to Rhun. The Shakka's root system seemed to have disappeared,
|
|
leaving a system of ten or so leg-like appendages. It appeared to be
|
|
stretching it's newly found legs as it slowly folded and straightened
|
|
them. The other three now noticed this odd display and fear riddled
|
|
their faces. Janten was the tallest of the Circle, and also the
|
|
first to run in fear, the other two followed him, loudly yelling
|
|
unintelligible phrases as they raced back towards the camp. Rhun had
|
|
tried to stop them, but gave up when it was apparent that nothing
|
|
would change their minds at leaving the Shakka far behind.
|
|
Both Rhun and Jardell were as fearful as they, but Jardell
|
|
thought of Lenda who should be arriving soon, and Rhun would never
|
|
have left him in a dangerous situation such as this. They had heard
|
|
the myth of the Rising of the Shakka, but neither of them had
|
|
believed it. The myth told of a certain day of each year when one
|
|
Shakka was allowed to move on to another location; the magic was
|
|
invoked at sunset and lasted until dawn. As this was only possible
|
|
once a year, the Shakkas made certain that they could pick the best
|
|
spot to settle down again, and many tales of horrible violence upon
|
|
mortals were linked to the myth.
|
|
"Look, over there! It's Lenda!" Rhun exclaimed as he pointed
|
|
towards a small moving figure silhouetted against the horizon. The
|
|
Shakka shuddered again, producing whistling sounds from it's
|
|
branches whipping through the air. It whirled around and seemed to
|
|
gaze at Lenda with invisible eyes. Then it made it's way toward her,
|
|
slowly at first, but with ever increasing speed. Jardell jumped to
|
|
his feet, quickly gathered his possessions and ran behind the Shakka
|
|
as fast as his leg would carry him. Rhun was right at his heels,
|
|
panting loudly. They made a wide circle around the Shakka which was
|
|
headed straight for Lenda.
|
|
"Why doesn't she stop? Can't she see that it's coming her way?"
|
|
panted Rhun.
|
|
"Maybe the Shakka has taken her mind into control?" Jardell
|
|
muttered. They ran towards Lenda, but as they passed close to the
|
|
Shakka, they realized that this had been a bad move. Rhun was the
|
|
first to feel the effects, but as they got closer to the Shakka,
|
|
Jardell was also beginning to feel the effects of the spell.
|
|
"Run back!" he screamed at Rhun, just in time. Rhun slowed,
|
|
blinked and with a surge of concentration broke free long enough to
|
|
make it out of the Shakka's Shadow. Panting, the two boys huddled
|
|
together and tried to decide the best plan of action.
|
|
"It's best if we just run around it at a great enough distance,
|
|
don't you think?" Rhun commented. "Otherwise, it'll get to her
|
|
before we get help or do anything else." Jardell agreed, and they
|
|
made their way around the Shakka at a safe distance. When the two
|
|
had finally reached Lenda, she indeed seemed to be in a trance.
|
|
Jardell stood in front of her, breathing hard, and called her name
|
|
over and over. Lenda gave no response, and Jardell had a difficult
|
|
time trying to stop her moving even closer to the rapidly advancing
|
|
Shakka. Jardell slapped her face lightly, and for a split second, it
|
|
seemed that her eyes cleared, but then they quickly took on their
|
|
previous state. Almost ready to panic, Jardell picked up on what he
|
|
had just seen: Pain seemed to break the spell. In desperation, he
|
|
whipped out his hunting knife and made a short, clean cut on her
|
|
lower arm, trying his best to stay away from any areas that
|
|
contained major blood vessels. Her eyes cleared instantly, she gave
|
|
a quick yell and looked at Jardell questioningly. He grabbed her
|
|
unwounded arm and pulled her behind him as fast as possible.
|
|
"Don't ask questions, just run!" He screamed at the top of his
|
|
lungs. He noticed that in all the confusion, the Shakka had come
|
|
within twenty paces of them, and it was high time to get out of it's
|
|
way. Jardell, Lenda and Rhun darted to the right, out of the
|
|
Shakka's path, and this seemed to confuse it enough for them to gain
|
|
some distance.
|
|
They stopped, and panting, Jardell tried to explain the
|
|
situation to Lenda. She understood immediately what had transpired,
|
|
and told Jardell and Rhun of a short story that her father had
|
|
related to her some years back. It seems that he, too, was a Shakka
|
|
user in his prime years, and had come to the local Shakka on a day
|
|
like this. He was the only one of the group to survive unscathed,
|
|
but he never related to Lenda how he had made his escape. She seemed
|
|
to remember him muttering something about Rabbits, but he never
|
|
would tell her more.
|
|
"Rabbits?" Jardell exclaimed. Just then, the Shakka changed
|
|
direction and was heading toward the group once again. "Come on,
|
|
let's move!" Jardell yelled.
|
|
"Rabbits!" he thought to himself. It was too obvious: The Shakka
|
|
seemed to have a limited intelligence in certain ways, much as a
|
|
predator had when trying to chase a rabbit. When rabbits fled, they
|
|
would not run in a straight line, but zig-zag their way to safety.
|
|
This not only wore the chasing foe down, but also confused it to the
|
|
point where the chase seemed fruitless.
|
|
"Come on... let's go! Do exactly as I do!" Jardell screamed, and
|
|
immediately changed his direction to the left. Lenda and Rhun,
|
|
astonished, followed his example. The Shakka slowly realized the
|
|
directional change, and altered it's direction accordingly. Jardell
|
|
now changed to the right and the other two followed his example. The
|
|
Shakka took even longer to realize this change and had moved away
|
|
quite a distance before it turned in the correct direction.
|
|
"One more should do it!" Jardell exclaimed. Once the Shakka was
|
|
on their tail again, he suddenly ran towards it in an almost
|
|
straight line, veering off to the left at the last moment. The
|
|
Shakka didn't even notice that they had passed it and were
|
|
successfully escaping its wrath behind its back. It just kept moving
|
|
forward, eventually slowing down to conserve resources. It was well
|
|
on its way to a new location, having already forgotten its prey.
|
|
Jardell, Rhun and Lenda stopped running when the Shakka was but a
|
|
tiny speck against the growing dusk. They hugged each other,
|
|
exasperated, but happily laughing, and after a short rest started to
|
|
make their way back to the camp.
|
|
-H.D. Baumeister <HDB0242 @ RITVAX>
|
|
|
|
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
|
|
|
Seer's Doom
|
|
The man freely checked his sword and knives to the child at the
|
|
flap of the garishly colored tent before entering. The dim interior
|
|
of a thelavran, or seer's, tent was not a familiar place to him, but
|
|
Baranya was rumored to be the best forecaster alive, and he wanted
|
|
to be sure, for his wife's sake.
|
|
He knelt on the cushions before the low table and waited for the
|
|
thelavra to appear. His eye was caught by the many-faceted crystal
|
|
spheroid on the a black velvet padded stand in the center of the
|
|
table, and so he didn't notice Baranya's entrance. One moment her
|
|
chair was empty and the next, she was sitting serenely before him.
|
|
"Pose your question," she said without preamble, sliding
|
|
gradually into her trance by narrowing her eyes to slits, breathing
|
|
shallowly, and concentrating on her personal thendera, or
|
|
concentration point, which was a painted wood toy knife her brother
|
|
had owned as a child.
|
|
The man said, "My wife wants a child. But, she's a small woman.
|
|
The healers aren't sure that she can safely carry and bear one. My
|
|
question: If my wife becomes pregnant, will she succeed in
|
|
delivering it safely, and will it be...normal?" There was a history
|
|
of deformity in his family, and that worried him as much as his
|
|
wife's possible problems.
|
|
The thelavra began humming softly, and closed her eyes in full
|
|
concentration, sinking fully into her trance. Presently, she opened
|
|
them again, and, still humming, gazed deeply into her crystal.
|
|
"I see...your wife." Baranya spoke slowly, humming between, and
|
|
the man had to concentrate in his turn to understand her. "She's
|
|
pregnant. She's delivering...a son...safely." He breathed a sigh of
|
|
relief. "I see...a limit. If...you...she conceives within...six
|
|
months, ...all will be...well with her...and the...child."
|
|
Baranya sat back, a slight frown on her face. She shook her
|
|
head, as if unable to quite leave her trance, and her eyes unglazed.
|
|
She looked at him, and asked, "Was that satisfactory?"
|
|
"O, yes, my lady. Thank you, thank you so much. Here, for you,
|
|
and all your help." He set three gold Stars on the table. "Thank you
|
|
again." He stood, turned, and left, smiling.
|
|
Baranya's frown deepened as the tent flap closed. She had seen
|
|
something else, but she knew from experience never to give a
|
|
customer more than he wanted. Still, she was curious, so she
|
|
breathed deeply, re-entered her trance, and stared into her crystal
|
|
ball. Her frown deepened, then her eyes widened in horror. She
|
|
muttered, "No. No! Stop!" She stared for a few more moments, then
|
|
she screamed, "Gods, NO!" and slumped in her chair. She breathed
|
|
once more, then died.
|
|
|
|
The man never knew what he had engendered. The thelavra had
|
|
looked into the future a little too far, and seen her own death, and
|
|
the result. And, seeing her death had brought it about, just as she
|
|
had seen it - slumping back in her chair and expiring right then and
|
|
there. But, such were the circumstances, and her power, that her
|
|
psychic death-gasp was transmitted throughout the whole of Eastland,
|
|
setting up a chain reaction among all of the mentally gifted - the
|
|
so called magicians - and, in forced empathy, killed them, or burned
|
|
out their powers.
|
|
Unknowing of the disaster foreseen, the man went home to tell
|
|
his wife the good news. His son was delivered some months later.
|
|
On the man's son's first birthday, barbarians from the Steppes
|
|
invaded quietly. They poured into Eastland unnoticed, and attacked
|
|
from within. Their conquest was easy and uncontrolled, due to the
|
|
demise of most of the witches and wizards the year before.
|
|
-John L. White <WHITE @ DREXELVM>
|
|
|
|
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
|
|
|
Ceda the Executioner: Chapter 5
|
|
The day was getting on and there was still a long way to go
|
|
before he was safe. If the Nuadrin had made a new gate then they
|
|
were almost certainly watching for him.
|
|
The sun was on the other side of the mountains now casting
|
|
shadow of Psom far out into the wilderness past the cliffs. Darkness
|
|
stretched as far as the eye could see, but in any case, Ceda waited
|
|
for the sun to go down totally and the darkness to be complete
|
|
before he left the shelter of the cliff face.
|
|
That night he set out. Being on the east of the mountains, he
|
|
had the moon to guide him, but the way was dangerous. Trying to
|
|
avoid roads as much as possible, he tramped on slowly, being most
|
|
sparing with the remaining food that he had left.
|
|
A couple of hours march brought him a newly made crossroad. The
|
|
way South undoubtedly led to the Port of Breanduin or Naz'Clow and
|
|
the North, it probably led up the Cities of Pheeng'Am, Bilfneuin or
|
|
past the Gate of Ploughdom to the far City of Naudsman on the
|
|
borders of Old Grandydyr beyond the desert.
|
|
The way West led back to the Cliffs of Belos. East was the way
|
|
that Ceda went, though he was not sure at this point where it led.
|
|
After a short time, The dry atmosphere that hung about the mountains
|
|
vanished and woods sprang up all around. Soon the road was deep into
|
|
a forest surrounded by the pleasant sound of birds.
|
|
The road was now slow and hard. The road climbed now up some
|
|
unnamed hill and twisted constantly. Soon all sense of direction was
|
|
lost and continuing meant following the road or being lost in the
|
|
endless wood.
|
|
Then Ceda heard footsteps coming up the path in front of him. A
|
|
great many footsteps, 'around fifteen of them', he thought. 'Mayhap
|
|
they can tell me where I am.'
|
|
They were getting very close when Ceda heard a commanding voice
|
|
call out an order in the common tongue. "Halt! We hold here for the
|
|
night! Beniza, chain their feet and bind their mouths. I don't wish
|
|
to meet any Bilfneuin Axemen. Now! Any of you filthy men decide to
|
|
try anything and I'll personally cut your fingers from your hands.
|
|
We reach the gate tomorrow." The voice was Nuadri. The laughs that
|
|
followed were Orcish-- and the cries were Human.
|
|
Ceda jumped into the woods. His first thought was escaping, then
|
|
remembering the fate of the men that reached the mountains, he
|
|
decided to help them. Taking a long sip of his wine, and throwing
|
|
away the last skin, he slipped into the woods and approached the
|
|
camp under the cover of the trees and the darkness.
|
|
Soon he stood just outside the camp. There were indeed fifteen:
|
|
one Nuadri, four Orcs and ten men. The sun was just crawling over
|
|
the trees in the east when they had settled down and the Orcs drew a
|
|
little into the wood to shield themselves from the coming sunlight.
|
|
The Men were bound in heavy chains at their feet and necks and were
|
|
anchored to a nearby tree and Nuadri slept down the road out of
|
|
reach of the men.
|
|
Ceda waited until the sun was over the trees shining down on the
|
|
company before he moved. Then taking his trident in both hands, he
|
|
crept forwards and silently killed the Nuadri. Then walking to the
|
|
trees the Orcs slept, he killed all but one, then he put his foot on
|
|
the Orcs chest and yelled.
|
|
The Orc and the rest of the company awoke with a start. Ceda
|
|
lifted it to its feet and took its weapon casting it away onto the
|
|
road by the Men. "Now, Orc! tell me, what is your business on this
|
|
side of the Gate of Ploughdom?" The Orc looked at Ceda in dismay,
|
|
then spat at him. The Orc died quickly.
|
|
Then Ceda turned to the dead Nuadri. A brief search revealed the
|
|
keys to the chains that bound the Men. Then they all sat and talked.
|
|
"I am Aroth of Leafholm, City in the Wood of Carne," said a man.
|
|
"And I am Ceda of No-Al Ben"
|
|
"Thank you for your kind service. My men and I were taken
|
|
prisoner of the Nuadrin some three days ago," said the man before he
|
|
was cut off by Ceda.
|
|
"Nuadrin? How came you by that name?"
|
|
"The Beast you killed there, it is called by our people a
|
|
Nuadri," replied Aroth. "So have we decided after none of the elders
|
|
could find any text with description or word of them. We have never
|
|
seen them before."
|
|
"Nor have I," said Ceda. "But I also have come to call them
|
|
Nuadrin though I know not why. I thought of such a name in folly for
|
|
I could not remember ever meeting such an odd creature as this in
|
|
all my travels. But let us come to this later, first we must leave
|
|
the road, for there are many of these Nuadrin about now, they have
|
|
hewn a new gate from the mountain of Psom."
|
|
"Aye, and from Dearn. But this is old news. We shall speak of it
|
|
later when we reach Leafholm. It is six hours stride from here."
|
|
"Nay!" cried Ceda. "I'll not travel the roads now! they are
|
|
infested with the vile Nuadrin!"
|
|
Aroth laughed. "We are native to this wood, Ceda of No-Al Ben.
|
|
We need not contend with The Orcs new masters! We know the wood like
|
|
as well as the Elves of Carne. You need not fear!"
|
|
Then he leapt to his feet an bounded into the wood followed by
|
|
the rest of the men. Ceda went to the Corpse of the Nuadri leader
|
|
and took a skin of liquid that was tied to its waist. Then he
|
|
followed into the woods after the men who were singing a merry song.
|
|
|
|
Carne! the merry wood
|
|
We return to Thee
|
|
Coming home.
|
|
|
|
Carne! where all is good
|
|
As we enter Thee
|
|
coming home.
|
|
|
|
Leafholm, the City in the Trees
|
|
Where all is well and good!
|
|
From the Days of Old when
|
|
Elves wrought gold and ruled
|
|
The kingdoms untold.
|
|
Then came to Leafholm.
|
|
|
|
And Leafholm! I return to thee
|
|
In bliss and glee
|
|
And smell the sweet nectar
|
|
That flows in Thee!
|
|
|
|
Coming home!
|
|
|
|
Strong wind and rain,
|
|
And Tainian's Bain,
|
|
And all the Ice of Plime;
|
|
Nor Orcs or Barnonoen
|
|
Or Dragons of Khuss
|
|
Shall keep me from my
|
|
Beloved Leafholm!
|
|
|
|
Coming home!
|
|
|
|
The air is sweet!
|
|
The food a treat!
|
|
All is right
|
|
In Leafholm!
|
|
|
|
Carne! love me please!
|
|
Let me live under your leaves!
|
|
|
|
Carne! I return to you!
|
|
|
|
I come home!
|
|
And rest I shall
|
|
In Leafholm!
|
|
|
|
Coming home!
|
|
|
|
And so they sang as they bounded through the forest as though
|
|
they were in an empty field hindered not by the trees of the hills
|
|
that they passed. At times they had to wait for Ceda who had a great
|
|
deal of trouble keeping up with them.
|
|
Finally, after some hours march, they came to a large wall that
|
|
stretched into the trees in either direction. The wall was as green
|
|
as the trees themselves and they turned and followed it for a little
|
|
while until they came upon a great gate.
|
|
Upon the gate were many Elves cloaked in dark green robes drawn
|
|
tightly about their heads. In each ones hand was a a long bow and on
|
|
their sides rested long knifes. Seeing Aroth, the gate was drawn
|
|
open and they all entered.
|
|
"Do the Elves of Carne and the men of Carne dwell in the same
|
|
city?" asked Ceda as the gate was closed behind them.
|
|
"Nay," said Aroth. "There are no men of Carne."
|
|
Ceda stopped short. He looked up and down at the row of Men he
|
|
had entered with. All appeared to be human. Then he looked sidelong
|
|
at Aroth who stood smiling at him.
|
|
"Ceda of No-Al Ben," he said. "We are not Men, but are Elves.
|
|
Come, we will hold now a council with the King, and you shall be
|
|
there to tell of your ordeal. There you shall learn all that you
|
|
wish to know.
|
|
Ceda was led up many streets until they reached the gate to the
|
|
palace of the city. The walls were made of a strange silken thread,
|
|
which Ceda commented on and was told that its properties were that
|
|
of the strongest metal and the thickest rock yet inclimbable.
|
|
All over the city as Ceda passed, trees towered over his head,
|
|
their tops disappearing into the clouds above. Green leaves covered
|
|
the paths (in Elven tree cities, there were no set roads to disrupt
|
|
the natural area, but paths were maintained for convenience) never
|
|
dying, and the soft singing of birds was never absent.
|
|
Inside the great walls of the palace, a great ring of pine trees
|
|
acted as a palace wall, which was only enterable through the Gate.
|
|
The trees were much larger then all the others and even as their
|
|
mighty trunks rose into the clouds above, they gave no hint of ending.
|
|
Into the tree gate they went and discovered a large stair. The
|
|
stair went both up and down, they went down. Torches lined the walls
|
|
and which were delicately carved out of the dirt among the roots.
|
|
Finally after a long descent, they came to a large door guarded
|
|
by four Elves. The doors were made of an odd yellow metal which
|
|
lighted the passage. Ceda was told to leave his weapons and enter.
|
|
The hall that he had entered was like none he had ever seen or
|
|
even heard the likes of in any tale. The walls and ceiling were that
|
|
of the living tree root of the magnificent trees that grew in the
|
|
Palace Ring. They were nicely cleaned and polished to the
|
|
magnificent color of orange which Ceda guessed was their natural
|
|
color. The floor was of the same yellow metal that the doors had
|
|
been made from. The room was full of Elves the like of which Ceda
|
|
had never seen before. They were dressed in many different shades of
|
|
green, their hair was and well groomed (mostly in braids) and their
|
|
faces were stern but gentle. They welcomed Aroth and turned to Ceda
|
|
as he and his men left the chamber.
|
|
"Welcome," said one of the larger Elves coming forward. He was
|
|
well dressed in a light green robe and wore a helm of orange leaves
|
|
about his head. "I am the Lord of Leafholm. Rakine I am called by
|
|
most of my Elves; Rakine of Leafholm. What is thy name, Sir?"
|
|
"Ceda of No-Al Ben," replayed Ceda.
|
|
There was some muffled talking around the room. Then Rakine
|
|
spoke. "The finder of the Crown has come to us! Welcome again, Ceda
|
|
of No-Al Ben. Tell us your tale and then ask us what you will, for I
|
|
see great concern in your eyes." He signaled and chairs and a great
|
|
table were brought forth.
|
|
Ceda sat at the middle of the long table. Elves were all about
|
|
him, but they were silent and Ceda spoke. "When the winter had
|
|
passed, I was hired and left for the city of Caffthorn. Then, as the
|
|
sun rises and the moon sets, it was ten days and three when I found
|
|
the Tree of Grobst and came upon the Crown."
|
|
"Aye," said Rakine. "This we know. We have been in close contact
|
|
with Rackins, for he is my brother, and we hide nothing."
|
|
Ceda stared at Rakine for a moment and then continued. "Then I
|
|
will start from the time that Cander of Perstanie reached
|
|
Cramstrock. It was ere two months that he came to me, and I was
|
|
drunk and could not talk. He took me like a dog onto a horse and we
|
|
rode for Dhernis stopping in Caahah. It was only there that he
|
|
counseled me that we made for the City of the Elves.
|
|
"Upon leaving, about four days ride from Dhernis on swift horse,
|
|
we went astray by my leave to the Gate of Ploughdom, for I had
|
|
misgivings about the Dark Doorway, though I know not why. Methought
|
|
it best to check and see lest there be something afoot.
|
|
"You dared to approach the Dark Gate in times of war? and what
|
|
of Cander, we knew not that he had reached you! where is he now?"
|
|
said Rakine.
|
|
"Cander," said Ceda slowly. "Met his end in the Caverns of
|
|
Onibus, but what is this talk of war?"
|
|
There was more quiet talking in the room and Rakine looked to an
|
|
Elf at his side and spoke a few words. The Elf answered and then
|
|
Rakine continued and the room grew silent.
|
|
"The Mouths of Arnmere and the Gates of Ploughdom, Dearn and
|
|
Psom have been spewing forth their vile laborers in war for nigh two
|
|
and a half months!" said Rakine. Caffthorn, Ruirse, No-Al Ben and
|
|
all the little countries of the East, North and West have been in
|
|
violent struggles to defeat their might, but as yet they are strong
|
|
and well armed. And they have with them the Nuadrin to command them."
|
|
"Aye," said Ceda. "I know of them, though I do not yet fully
|
|
understand them. I had no name for them, and in folly did I begin to
|
|
call them Nuadrin, for I had naught else to refer to them as, and
|
|
yet you use the name as do I, yet none have heard me speak it."
|
|
"They are to us a nameless people, not in song or story, but yet
|
|
they are here, and we call them now the Nuadrin for we also have but
|
|
naught else to call them but must speak of their deeds. Continue."
|
|
"After seven suns had passed since we had departed from
|
|
Cramstrock, we were taken prisoner by Nuadrin not fifty dragon
|
|
lengths from the Gate! I know not of anything else but that I lay
|
|
for sometime in a dark room bound in chains at my feet and hands.
|
|
Then I was led before a large beast that bore like to the Nuadrin,
|
|
but was bigger and stronger. He was the ruler, and he mocked me and
|
|
smote Cander, and that was the last that I saw of him.
|
|
"After a while in my cage I escaped and found my way to a pass
|
|
in Psom and learned of the new gate. There I fought with a Nuadri
|
|
and some of its pet Orcs and found this:" he reached into his pack
|
|
and retrieved the medallion with the crown on it.
|
|
"Aye, we have seen many of the like," Said Rakine.
|
|
Ceda returned the medallion to his pouch and went on. "There was
|
|
one other matter of the mountains that troubles my thought: on the
|
|
night that I had escaped from the pursuit of the Orcs, I came upon a
|
|
place that was barren of life. Naught lived there, it was as if all
|
|
creatures were dead and gone save the trees and plants. It was to
|
|
that place that the Orcs from Onibus did not follow me as I fled."
|
|
"Aye, there are places in the mountains that even the Orcs will
|
|
not tread. You were lucky that you found not what did live there
|
|
I'll wager."
|
|
"It is there that I slept. When I awoke, I journeyed down into
|
|
the valley below and there I found a camp of the enemy. They did not
|
|
spy me though I sat and watched them for a time. There they burned
|
|
men and made many weapons in ready for war.
|
|
"I sat until the sun fell and then I circled the camp making for
|
|
pass in Psom. And it is there that I first discovered the new Gate.
|
|
"I fled Orcs over the pass killing some and gaining the
|
|
medallion and traveled down the other side of the mountain to the
|
|
Cliffs of Belos and then found a way down the following day."
|
|
"You found way down the cliffs with naught but what you have
|
|
now, or did your luck provide you with rope from one of the dead
|
|
Orcs?" asked one of the Elves that sat at the table.
|
|
"Luck it was, but not with rope," he answered. "Down the cliffs
|
|
edge Southward I walked until I came to a crack in the cliffs edge
|
|
that descended until the ground. That was the night that it rained.
|
|
Almost half way down I came upon a cave and rested there until the
|
|
following day.
|
|
"When I came down the mountain the following day, I traveled
|
|
East until I came so Carne and met your men in the hands of the
|
|
Enemy. They led me here, and that is my tale."
|
|
Rakine sat for a while in thought until a another elf entered
|
|
the room. And Ceda stared at him in wonder, for it was Aroth, yet he
|
|
was no longer a human, but an elf; the face was the same, with
|
|
perhaps a more smooth look, or perhaps his eyes were more stretched
|
|
and thin, but this was Aroth, and anyone could see that. He bowed
|
|
low before the king and took a place at the far side of the table
|
|
with a nod to Ceda.
|
|
"Well," said the King at last. "We must send word to Rackins at
|
|
once. Ceda, it is upon you to accompany them to the fair city of
|
|
Perstanie in the Learis Islands. This time, however, I hope that you
|
|
shall go there without any short side trips. Go now directly to
|
|
Dhernis, and take the Ships of Tearny by my order to the Captain.
|
|
"With him we shall need to send escort. Aroth, go with him, and
|
|
take whoever you would with you, but make haste! It is nigh one year
|
|
since he was sent for, and we have as yet heard nothing from my
|
|
brother in forty suns and forty moons. Go now, and may your speed
|
|
compete with the raven!
|
|
|
|
'uentu descern shyen svequ seju!'"
|
|
|
|
"We shall leave at first light, cousin" said Aroth to Rakine
|
|
with a nod to Ceda.
|
|
"Nay," said Rakine. "First we wait for word from Rackins,
|
|
messengers have already been sent telling of his arrival. As for
|
|
now, go and make yourselves ready, for you leave within the week."
|
|
With that final word, Ceda and Aroth got up and left the room.
|
|
"Cousin?" asked Ceda as they walked down the hall.
|
|
"Yes."
|
|
Aroth led Ceda to a room where he was to rest and before long he
|
|
was sound asleep on one of the most comfortable beds that he had
|
|
ever slept on.
|
|
It was a week and three days before they had left. No word had
|
|
come from Perstanie and time was ever fleeting. Ceda lay on his bed,
|
|
thoughts drifted though his mind and slowly he fell into a slumber.
|
|
It felt like he had hardly closed his eyes before Aroth once
|
|
again stood before the foot of his bed, clad in a dark green riding
|
|
cape with a hood and light riding boots; and it was not long before
|
|
they were on tall horses riding for the city gate. Aroth seemed of
|
|
good cheer and was full of energy as was Ceda who was once again
|
|
under way to the beautiful City of the Elves on Cergaan.
|
|
Before the sun was in center sky they were deep into Carne many
|
|
leagues from Leafholm. The light could just barely seep through the
|
|
leaves of the treetops high above their heads bringing small showers
|
|
of blissful illumination to the undergrowth and small animals that
|
|
bathed in the tranquility. On the look-out for Orcs and Nuadri, they
|
|
continued onward, but met none. And by nightfall, they were a days
|
|
ride from the border of the forest.
|
|
They pulled off the road about a hundred yards and set up their
|
|
camp. The horses were put on watch while they set up. Then they sat
|
|
down to have a meal of some cakes that they had brought from
|
|
Leafholm along with some fresh water from a near-by stream.
|
|
The pleasantness lasted during the night and at length both Ceda
|
|
and Aroth were deep in slumber while the horses watched over the camp.
|
|
At first light they awoke and packed up their gear for the days
|
|
ride. The red pinnacles of light were barely visible through the
|
|
branches above stemming over the early morning sky and the air was
|
|
rich with the soft sounds of birds. Reluctantly they stowed the last
|
|
of their things, had some berries and started for the borders.
|
|
The second morning since they had left Leafholm was peaceful.
|
|
Although they were in a hurry, they could not ride though the great
|
|
Forest of Carne without slowing to wonder at the somber trees that
|
|
stood so noble in their path. Soon they took to walking, first
|
|
quickly, then slower and finally barely moving up the path at all.
|
|
After a few hours the sun was over head and they stopped to have
|
|
a meal in a small patch of sunlight that managed to sneak through
|
|
the upper branches of a tall tree and form a large circle of light
|
|
on the ground near its trunk. They took a few cakes from their packs
|
|
and sat down to eat when they first heard the noise; hoofs, running
|
|
at great speed up the road from the direction they were headed.
|
|
"Arnea seek Duval! We were not careful! They will see the horses
|
|
and will know we are here," cried Aroth as he leapt to his feet. "We
|
|
shall perish from this folly of ours!" He ran to the horses and
|
|
pulled their reins jolting them off the road in a frenzy.
|
|
Ceda also got up, but not as hastily. "I think not, Orcs ride
|
|
not on steeds of any kind."
|
|
"True, but can the Nuadri ride?"
|
|
"I know not, but it is too late do debate, alas they are upon
|
|
us!" He through back his long hair and reached for his sword that
|
|
hung loosely at his side. At that moment the riders came into sight,
|
|
and Aroth relaxed for they were Elves.
|
|
"Hail!" shouted the foremost rider seeing Aroth. "Greetings."
|
|
"Hail," answered Aroth with a long sigh of relief. "I am Aroth
|
|
of Leafholm, cousin to Rakine the King. We seek knowledge of the way
|
|
up ahead by the forest gate, is it save to travel?"
|
|
"Aye, we have seen and heard naught for a days ride, it is safe."
|
|
"Good, and what is your business? Are you messengers?" said Aroth.
|
|
"Yes, we travel with message from Rackins. Pardon me, but are
|
|
you Ceda, for our message is for you be you he."
|
|
"Ah!" said Ceda with satisfaction. "Rackins has word of our
|
|
arrival then! What were his words?!"
|
|
"He spoke not as much as Merth. They want you to ride for the
|
|
Caves of Arnmere and seek what lies there, thou I know not what. He
|
|
said you would know about what he speaks," said the rider.
|
|
"The Caves? Is that old fool wizard in his right mind?" cried
|
|
Aroth. "Even in times of peace I would not venture within fifty
|
|
leagues of the hideous Caves!"
|
|
"Aye," said Ceda. "I know of what he speaks."
|
|
With a glance from Ceda, Aroth bid the riders continue to
|
|
Leafholm and inform Rakine of their new destination.
|
|
In a spring the horses had drawn away bearing the riders onward
|
|
and were soon out of sight. "To Arnmere?" asked Aroth with a lump
|
|
welling in his thought.
|
|
"Aye," said Ceda with the same feeling of dread. "I know what I
|
|
must do. Come if you will, but I force you not."
|
|
"I will come, for only a coward would leave you, and I am of
|
|
noble blood!" he said thrusting his fist into the air revealing the
|
|
pitch black ring that encircled his forth finger.
|
|
"Then let us ride at once!" shouted Ceda with a smile.
|
|
They finished what remained of their meal and stowed their gear.
|
|
Then mounting the horses they sped down the road and out of sight
|
|
into the distance with swiftness of the eagle.
|
|
-Joel Slatis <LGSLATIS @ WEIZMANN>
|
|
|
|
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
|
|
|
Idol
|
|
My father was a mercen'ry:
|
|
For our upkeep he sold his sword.
|
|
His fame was sung throughout the land,
|
|
And told to us by Mother's word.
|
|
|
|
We saw him little in early years,
|
|
As across our land in war he went
|
|
Leading some and killing others,
|
|
And always money home was sent.
|
|
|
|
Then he left home to fight foreign wars
|
|
When I was but a decade old.
|
|
Yet we looked up to the image he left
|
|
In the tales my mother told.
|
|
|
|
Without a father we grew up,
|
|
But our mother raised us right
|
|
With tales of Father's glorious deeds
|
|
That made us all eager to fight.
|
|
|
|
And though we were not swordsman each
|
|
A model was his courage still.
|
|
And we learned pride in all to take
|
|
Even if 'twas only to kill.
|
|
|
|
And he left home to fight foreign wars
|
|
When I was but a decade old.
|
|
Yet we looked up to the image he left
|
|
In the tales my mother told.
|
|
|
|
Another tenyear he'd been gone
|
|
When word of him fin'ly came back:
|
|
He'd died in battle, brave and true,
|
|
To hold his flag against attack.
|
|
|
|
That had occured some two years past
|
|
When we began bad things to hear.
|
|
A saint he was not, and no one is;
|
|
But the wrong he did was not ours to bear.
|
|
|
|
And he left home to fight foreign wars
|
|
When I was but a decade old.
|
|
Yet we looked up to the image he left
|
|
In the tales my mother told.
|
|
|
|
Ten more years had passed me by;
|
|
Years I'd lived both full and well,
|
|
And for myself because I knew
|
|
No good would survive me after I fell.
|
|
|
|
For Father's life was oft in my mind
|
|
And the tales that grew after he'd died
|
|
Spreading the wrong, forgetting the right:
|
|
Leaving me no need for pride.
|
|
|
|
And he left home to fight foreign wars
|
|
When I was but a decade old.
|
|
And the Idol created by Mother's words
|
|
Died by the tales that others told.
|
|
|
|
-John L. White <WHITE @ DREXELVM>
|
|
|
|
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
|
|