634 lines
45 KiB
Plaintext
634 lines
45 KiB
Plaintext
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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
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2 ************************* INSTALLED: 12 SEP 85 **********************
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3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator
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4 ************************************************************
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5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION
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6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM.
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7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned
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8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public.
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9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is
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10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which
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11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be
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12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved)
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13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the
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14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the
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15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace
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16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up.
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17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
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18 ************************************************************
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19
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20 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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21 It's been quite a while, but here I am again (finally), cluttering up
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22 THE TOP
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23 ????????????????????????????? QUIZMASTER ???????????????????????????????????????
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24 %#*@_%*@#)_*)%_&*!#)_&*!#)_&*!+#*&)_#$*&)#*!^#&)*#@)&*#)_&*!)_*&!)*&)_!*&+!*&)_!#*&_)!*&_!)*&_!)*&!_*&_*&_!*&_*%&_*
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25 QUIZMASTER : Drat you!
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26 Chenoceux : Nous comprendons. Nous arrivons a un accord. Le tout premier temp est particulier. Bienvenu!
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27 Mikey: No more characters on the screen! I haven't had a chance to try out your esc hints yet, but I will. MEX still
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28 locks up tight as a drum. I took out all UART initializing, but the darn thing refuses to acknowledge anything when I
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29 go to terminal mode. I haven't tried the quad disk either. I *did* upload some of the adventures to Compuserve. The
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30 first batch went on the TRS-80 Professional Forum. I'll put them on the IBM PROSIG also. How different is the escape key
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31 trapping in AMODEM from COPYLINK. Like I said, the esc works fine in AMODEM. Frustration. Oh, before I forget, the
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32 Portland IBM club now has AdventureWare too.
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33 *#@)_%*#@_%*!_*%!)*%!_*%!_)*%)!_*%!_)%* L'homme sans Parity *$#_*!_*%!_%!_%!_&%!&%!@%!)_@*%_!&%)_!@*%)_!&%!@_&%!)_%!&%
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34 [/]
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35 @@@ I'm fourth from the top, I think... @@@
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36 ****************************************************************************
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37 Fatigue... warm feelings, content. As of today, the loan has
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38 been approved and the house is ours. One less major headache now
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39 set aside. things are stablizing scotty, ready for transport.
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40 ********************15moredays****kathyd************************************
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41 #$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#3:21#9/13#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#
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42 And here we go again...
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43 Thanks, all, for welcoming me back. I hope nobody thought I was snubbing BWMS. It's just that the other story I had kept
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44 me kinda busy and I had other stuff going, too. Whatever. Anyway, let's get this thing going...
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45
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46 ACT OF MERCY
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47 (Part 2 of 3)
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48 by John Silverman
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49
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50 Three blocks down and two blocks over in the driving rain brought him home. It was days like this he wished he still
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51 had a car. Unfortunately the only car they had dissappeared with his father a year ago. As he walked with his jacket
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52 pulled over his head, eyes glued to the pavement, he thought about work. It was more pleasent than the only other thing
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53 he could think about.
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54 As he was getting ready to go, Mr. Henderson had taken him aside and said, "You know, you been doin' this for almost
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55 a year now. Straight home right after work, take care of the old lady all night, and right back first thing in the morning
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56 It ain't natural. You gotta have some time for yourself. A nursing home for her would be a real good idea."
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57 Tim sighed to himself, exasperated. Waht business was it of his? "Insurance won't pay for a nursing home. And I sure
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58 won't put her in one of those state homes. They're pathetic. I can't pay the bills as it is. Strokes ain't cheap, you know."
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59 Henderson had a smelly old cigar butt that he like to shift from one side of his mouth to the other. "Yeah, I know.
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60 Brother in law's old lady had one, and he was up to his butt in bills. Finally hadda declare bankruptcy. Too bad your dad
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61 couldn't have hung around. I know it's tough for you. But I'm gonna help. Startin' next payday, you're gettin' a five cent
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62 raise." and then he grinned hugely, like the magnimonious prick he was.
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63 Tim hadn't known how to contain his excitement, so he just let it all out. "Gee, thanks." He even managed something lke
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64 a smile. "I really appreciate it. Hey, I gotta go. I'm needed at home."
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65 "Sure, kid." Henderson had toddled back to his office to shuffle more papers and drool over the issue of Penthouse
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66 magazine he had in a desk drawer.
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67 On his way out, Sherrie had caught his eye from the far register. She waved at him and he raised a hand in return. He
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68 silently raged at the unfairness of his situation and suddenly his stomach clenched like a giant fist, causing a huge
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69 ripping pain that almost doubled him over. He managed a straight face as he walked out stiffly. Outside, the horrendous
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70 pain had loosened and he stood up straight. Swell. Now he had an ulcer. This was the absolute last straw. He was going to
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71 go through with it. Tonight. He felt in his pocket for the bottle. still there.
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72 The memory ended just as he got to the front door. As he let himself in the house, the smell hit him. Ammonia, strong
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73 enough to corl his teeth. It did well to mask the fainter but equally unpleasent smells that usually permeated the house.
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74 Smells like stale beer, moldy food, garbage... smells that he was so used to that he didn't notice them anymore. Flies
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75 buzzed thickly around something he couldn't see in the dim light. He stepped on a beer bottle and it shot out from under
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76 his foot to clatter against other bottles on the floor. One shattered. A voice called out from the bedroom fearfully,
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77 "Who's there? Timmy? Is that you?"
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78 "Yes, Mom." He sighed. He shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over the recliner. He stepped on, over, and though
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79 garbage on his way to the bedroom. A single lamp cast a dirty yellow light over the room. There was a four-poster bed in
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80 the middle of the room. At the foot of the bed was a dresser holding an out of focus color TV with a cable box on top. The
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81 carpet was rotting, partly from garbage and dirt, but mostly from spilled sewage. The source of the spillage was a portable
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82 commode sitting next to the bed. Normally, the smell from it was nothing short of incredible. Now, he couldn't smell it at
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83 all. In the bed itself, among the rupled and soaking sheets, lay the huge form of... Mother.
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84 "You're just in time, dear. I have to go again." She said apologetically. He rolled his eyes skyward and went to help
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85 her to the commode. It wasn't easy manouvering her 300+ pounds and at one point he almost slipped and lost her. She screamed
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86 Finally he had her situated on the pot and he gathered the soaking bedsheets and blankets. He carried them out to the
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87 washer. he brought back some fresh stuff and was making the bed when the phone rang. "Will you get that, honey?" she askd.
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88 Tim went out to the front room and picked up the extension. "Hello?"
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89 "Tim? Where's your mother?" It was his grandmother, a rather severe woman of sixty who worked as a legal secretary. She
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90 had the rather infuriating habit of picking at Tim and arguing with her daughter. Tim imagined she was dissapointed in them
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91 both. He didn't really blame her.
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92 "She's, uh, occupied." He answered diplomatically. "Call back in about five minutes, okay?" Mother called thought the
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93 door, wanting to know who it was.
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94 "Well, I just called to see how she's doing. You know, you really should be taking better care of her than you do."
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95 Tim held back a blistering reply and instead answered, "Yes, I know. I keep trying, though. Maybe someday I'll get it
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96 right." Mother yelled again, asking who it was.
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97 "Don't get sarcastic with ME, young man-"
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98 "Sorry. I just had a rough day, is all." The headache was returning in full force. He had a sudden inspiration. "Say,
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99 could you call me at eight o'clock? My clock's busted and there's a show on-"
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100 "Okay, okay. Listen, I have to go now. Tell your mother I said hello and I'll call back later."
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101 "'bye." He hung up the phone and Mother yelled for the umpteenth time who was on the phone. Tim wanted to pitch the
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102 damn thing out the window but held his temper. Today, no matter what, he would keep his cool. "It's Granma. She'll call
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103 back later." He made his way back to the bedroom. After helping Mother back to the bed, he removed the tray from the bottom
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104 of the commode. On his way to the toilet to dump it, he stepped on another bottle and almost lost his balance. Raw, warm
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105 sewage sloshed all over his pants and shoes. Mother started another one of her giggling fits. He closed his eyes as his
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106 head and stomach flared up in unison.
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107 "You should be more careful." Mother said, still giggling. Tim held back another nasty reply and took the tray to the
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108 bathroom. After putting it back, he went into his own room and changed. He still stunk, but he didn't care. Finally, he
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109 collapsed in the recliner in the front room and switched on the TV. Mother's voice floated out from the other room, "Will
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110 you fix me dinner, dear? and while you do, tell me how work went today."
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111 Tim reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small bottle. It was filled with a clear liquid. He studied
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112 the label, thinking. Finally, his gaze locked on the small warning sticker on the bottom. There was a tiny skull and
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113 crossbones and the words: EXTREMELY TOXIC. DO NOT INGEST.
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114 He stared at the warning for a long time. Then he slipped the bottle into his pocket and went into the kitchen to fix
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115 dinner.
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116
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117 (To Be Concluded...)
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118
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119 Whew!
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120 Patti: Good to hear from you. I thought you had dissappeared for good. Maybe we could converse on some more private board?
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121 All: done. For now, anyway. See you next disk.
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122 JOHN SILVERMAN
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123 #$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#4:18#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$
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124 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
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125 things had all happened so quickly. i really didn't know what to think. in
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126 the last day and a half so much had happend in my life, in all our lives, that
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127 my mind reeled with all the new concepts that i had not even conceived of.
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128 what was happening here on the surrface to this... this place? what had
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129 happened to the piper to have caused him to be on his present state? or the
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130 state we were all in for that matter? and what was it that i had done to aid
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131 cragmore in the presence of bard's playing of the pipes? what? what? what?
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132 now was a time that made little sense to me. why had we stopped our motions
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133 now that we had found our missing ompanion? my mind was elsewhere, all i had
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134 heard said were the words of the piper and then some mummbling of the others.
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135 i turned my head tosee the tin man dashing off to be inside the pell-mell
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136 once again. something was different. i had not seen such an expression on
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137 tin's face all during the onset of the adventure, it had changed.
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138 curiouser and curiouser... my mind demanded answers to the questions that
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139 filled all of us. and i'd be damned if i was going to just stand still now!
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140 "why don't we do anything? can't you see that even if something dastardly
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141 is to happen that we've trangressed the boundry of this... this existance
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142 that there still may be hope? if we are to do anything, we must do it now.
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143 and quickly at that." i knew i was ranting again but i was wired. i wanted
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144 to get this thing over with. the others just stood still as if i had not
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145 spoken. a turned head or two was all i saw.
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146 "and what of you, you unknown person? are you the one responsible for us
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147 having crossed this cursed threshold?" i began to close the distance between
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148 the other female and myself. "yes, that's it. you and cragmore are both
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149 resposible for my having discovered another reason for having found another
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150 reason to be an outcast in society. psionic powers? am i to be just another
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151 freak?" i looked back at cragmore, then i went back to the other female.
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152 if there was something i hadn't heard, it must have been important. i had
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153 the idea that what i was doing was right in my mind although it may in some
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154 way be wrong by all the others.
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155 "no, tayree. stop. you don't understand the whole picture. there are
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156 other facets to be known." it was the voice of cragmore. "it is a gift to
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157 be able to use your mind's power in a way far greater than any other normal
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158 person. but as you have guessed, it is something that must be harnessed, it
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159 must be coached into the alignment with the intentions of the whole being...
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160 stop, don't move. relax and let the truth sink in."
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161 something in his words made me stop to reconsider. was my approach to the
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162 other a mistake? now i really was confused. i now had a dislike for this one
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163 other person, cragmore, but it is in his words that i must place my trust.
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164 oh the dilema of my conscience. i squeezed my eyes shut and forced these
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165 thoughts out of my mind. blankness came over me. now i would understand.
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166 what would be our next step, or would there be one. my mind is clear.
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167 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& the scarlet lion &&&&&&&
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168
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169 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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170 The piper's mind was reeling. Too much had happened too fast. His long
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171 sojourn here in this timeless waste had honed his perceptions to a strange
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172 keeness, the overload of sexual energy, the constant presence of death and
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173 destruction, the nearness of his (and his new companion's) approach to death,
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174 the incredible changes that had happened in the few moments since their
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175 pooled blood had seemed to rip the very fabric of the space that surrounded
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176 them, the sudden appearance of the pell-mell and his companions on this
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177 ill-fated adventure -- the very speed of events was causing the piper to
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178 loose his grip on "reality". Concern was on their faces as they approached.
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179 Concern (for one so unworthy thought the piper, lost in guilt), and curiosity
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180 for his companion, standing still before him with his bloody shirt pressed
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181 to her wounded breast. The piper raised his arm (funny how he had not noticed
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182 the temperature when here alone, the presence of his co-adventurers sent
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183 a chill over his naked chest and shoulders) and shouted,
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184 "STOP! For the love of all you hold sacred, do not move!"
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185 The ominous flickerings of destruction and death subsided with the
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186 adventurers' stillness, questions written on their faces. Somehow, scant
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187 explanations were made, questions were deferred, or answered enough to
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188 allow some functioning. The piper was never sure just who did what -- who
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189 moved the pell-mell to intercept the madly running tin man (the piper
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190 apologized for jumping to the conclusion that he had merely given way to
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191 panic as the hot metal smell from the nearly overloaded batteries filled
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192 the air inside the pell-mell). Somehow, the party was removed from that
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193 dread surface, insulated from causing mass death and destruction by the
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194 size and mass of the pell-mell, and assembled with a breathing space to
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195 consider what had happened, and what their likely fate was.
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196 The lady Tayree was moving with dislike and menace in her face toward
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197 the new addition to the party, standing a little apart with the piper's
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198 blood soaked shirt hanging out of the top of her hastily belted gray robe.
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199 The piper's arm stung where the keen blade of the knife had laid it open
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200 with a deep gash, and looking down he saw blood welling out in a thick
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201 stream. He heard a deep buzzing in his ears, and darkness seemed to be
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202 pressing in from the edges of his vision as he moved toward the lady
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203 with whom he shared the awful guilt of this position. The few steps
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204 across the pell-mell's floor seemed to take an eternety. He tried to put
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205 an arm around her shoulders, but was that dislike on her face as she
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206 pushed away from him? Was it an accusing rejection as she slumped to
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207 the floor of the vehicle, the top of her robe dropping open, releasing the
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208 piper's blood-soaked garment, exposing her blood-stained chest to the
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209 shocked gaze of the assembled party, who watched as she crumpled to the
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210 floor, leaking away the crimson stuff of her life. Bending, trying to
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211 help, the piper felt his knees give way and all turned black.
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212 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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213 OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI
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214
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215 Not even the most steadfast adventurer could have kept a total grip on
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216 reality in light of all that had happened. Trainor realized that the party
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217 was in great peril, this time not from outside forces, but from within. He
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218 surveyed the assemblage carefully, taking in all that he saw.
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219 Fencer had retired to one of the Pell-mell's private rooms. Fencer was
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220 a strange lot. He had barely spoken during the entire trip, yet he was always
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221 present at the scene of action. Now he had detached himself from the others
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222 completely. Trainor knew not what to do with him.
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223 Bard was physically and emotionally drained. This was very apparent
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224 from his sprawled position on one of the larger cushion seats in the far
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225 corner of the commons room. His inspirational bagpipe playing had reunited
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226 the group, but at a tremendous cost to others. Trainor felt that Bard
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227 realized this, and was now in turmoil over his actions.
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228 Emu was one of the most stable of the group. His guiding of the ship
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229 and the pick-up of the people from the surface of ZEB was well executed. Emu
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230 was currently at the controls of the ship, keeping watch on the sensory
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231 readouts, and making sure the ship kept a stable position a few meters above
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232 the surface.
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233 Tin Man, the strangest of all the group save the lady found with
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234 Piper, had raced to the Pell-mell's work bench to try and alleviate the
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235 power surges ZEB had coursed through his body. The acrid smell of super-hot
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236 connectors still permeated the air.
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237 Cragmore, the psi specialist who along with Bard and Tayree had guided
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238 the ship here, sat in a lotus-like position, trying to regain the strength he
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239 had used so much of in entering ZEB. His confrontation with Tayree still stung
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240 Trainor's ears. By showing Lady Tayree the skill she didn't know she had,
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241 Cragmore had opened a real Pandora's box, and it was up to him to tender and
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242 mold this new-found power in Tayree.
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243 Tayree seemed to have cooled a bit, but her intense emotions towards
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244 Cragmore and the mysterious companion of Piper hung in the air like a finely
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245 spun web of silk. Her awakening stirred everyone greatly. This was a
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246 very delicate period in her development. Cragmore would have to be responsible.
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247 And Tayree, even with her feelings towards the newest passenger on board,
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248 being the only other female would have to take care of her. It was a subject
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249 Trainor was not looking forward to embarking on.
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250 Piper, who now lay prone on the couch, was suffering from shock.
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251 Trainor had covered him with electro-blankets, but all the technology and
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252 medicine in the known realities could not help Piper now. He was on his own,
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253 deep inside himself, and only he could break free from the delusions of his
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254 shock and return to the surface of his being. Trainor had made him comfortable,
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255 it was all he could do.
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256 And Piper's companion, this lady from within ZEB. How did she get
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257 there? What is her connection with ZEB? Is she responsible for the death and
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258 destruction ZEB has wrecked across the universe? How did this strange area
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259 and this strange young woman emerge from the ZEB zone and the space it was
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260 borne unto from Trainor's Pell-mell?
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261 There were too many questions to think about now. There were more
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262 pressing matters at the moment. This lady needed help. It was time to heal
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263 wounds and regroup.
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264 "Tayree, I know how you might feel, but you must help me care for this
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265 woman. You must put your feelings aside now and put the life of another before
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266 your own. Txis was a foundation of philosophy for my people, as I suspect it
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267 may be for all people. Please help her."
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268
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269 OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI
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270
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271 Aside to Zepher: Why don't you let us finish this adventure on our own. You can
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272 always join the next one, but for the sake of this story, I would rather keep
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273 things as they are.
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274 Uh oh, is that a "Txis" up there? It should be "This" of course. h=x? Hmmmm.
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275
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276 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& tsl &&&&&&&
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277
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278 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))
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279 :::::=====:::::
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280 At the TOP! WOW! GOLLY!
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281 :::::=====:::::
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282 Well, I didn't get any word about joining in, so I'll wait. But someone
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283 s, please, let me in. It's cold outside.....
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284 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====
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285 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))
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286 Zepher: I believe that you got your answer on ln 271 un less I am
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287 mistaken. At the top??? not quite
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288 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))((( Ripple)))
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289 ........................................................
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290 Back to Portland, away from LA (hooray!). Now things are stranger than
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291 ever. Friends are lovers, and champagne flows nightly, but who knows
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292 where this will lead? We all look at each other and see potential
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293 partners...but we know that it can't really be. >>sigh<<
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294 Anyways...BWMS is looking really good after a modemless summer! The
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295 above story is great...bravo!
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296 ..................................Entropy...............
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297
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298 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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299
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300 It was late. The few inhabitants of the inn that were left were either gathered around the fire chatting or sitting
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301 alone with their drinks. All eyes turned to the door when it opened.
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302 The young man that stood there looked perfectly ordinary, if a bit odd, at least as far as the untrained eye could
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303 tell. Those in the room with mystical training, though, immediately noticed something different about this man and almost
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304 unconciously began to raise defenses.
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305 He stood over six feet, but couldn't have weighed more than a hundred fifty pounds. A good guess would have put his
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306 age between twenty and twenty five. He wore black boots, faded bluejeans, and a brown jacket of some leatherlike material
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307 over a T-shirt which had a picture of a yellow 'smile' face and the words "SMILE IF YOU'RE HORNY!" under it. A blue base-
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308 ball cap with the Smith & Wesson insignia completed the image. He carried no weapons openly but there was a slight
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309 suspicious bulge under the jacket on the left side. He carried a worn nylon knapsack slung over one shoulder.
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310 Seeing nothing threatening or even interesting about the young man, the people went back to what they were doing. A
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311 figure, sitting in a far corner, almost hidden in the shadows, watched the new arrival with keen interest.
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312 Brown eyes scanned the room, taking in everything and giving nothing back in return. Then he walked over to the bar,
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313 where the innkeeper was polishing some glasses. Leaning on the countertop, he commented offhand, "So, is this place
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314 always this dead?"
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315 "Not usually," the inkeeper replied, bored. "Most of our more interesting clientele left on an adventure a little
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316 while back and they haven't returned yet, at least that I've heard."
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317 "An adventure?" The young man nodded, "What kind of adventure?"
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318 "I'm not sure. I wasn't there at the time. All I know is that some fellah named Trainor came in and announced he
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319 needed some help in saving his planet from some great danger or something like
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320 that. It's hard to know for sure because everybody you ask around here gives you a different story, and there are some great
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321 tale tellers here."
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322 "Yeah, I can dig that. Tell me, about how long ago did they leave and did you happen to catch the name of their des-
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323 tination?" The young man tried to appear totally disinterested as he said this.
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324 "They left several days ago and no, I don't know where they were headed." The innkeeper was beginning to get a tad
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325 impatient with the questioning. "I'm not here as a message service, you know. Are you going to spend some money or did you
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326 just come in here to-" The young man fixed him with a stoney stare that cut him off instantly. He felt a cold sweat break
|
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327 out and his heart began to thud sickeningly. He wished he'd kept his mouth shut.
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328 After a long, tense moment, the young man grinned, breaking the spell. "With an attitude like that, I can see why
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329 business is so slow lately." He pulled a coin out of his pocket and slapped it down on the counter. "I'll have a mug of
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330 whatever dishwater you serve around here. And make it a clean glass or I'll stick it in your ear." The innkeeper drew him
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331 a glass of beer and the young man took it to a table near the fire but still away from company. The figure in the shadows
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332 impassively watched the whole scene.
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333 The young man set his pack on the floor and sat down wearily, wondering what to do next.
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334
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335 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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336 All:for those who recognize this character, this takes place APART from the story that will be running on TANIS (Assuming
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337 the B-Board ever goes back up) I can't say if it takes place before or after because I'm not quite sure myself. I'll just
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338 have to see as I go along.
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339 Zephyr: I hate to break your heart, but no.
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340 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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341
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342 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (distinctions)
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343 Hmmm, a familiar voice heard with words of unknown flavor. One has been able
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344 to return after a long absence. One is welcomed back aboard...
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345 But it doesn't sound like the same one I heard of from before. The old one
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346 shed a light of commitment, the new one gives the image of being a wanderer
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347 with a totally carefree spirit. Carefree... careless... reckless?
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348
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Nay, it doesn't sound like the same one at all.
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349 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian 257:03:24:19
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350
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351 [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/]
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352 N.N.P.O.T.S: (not necessarily part of the story):
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353 Familiar voices in familiar places. New songs to be sung certainly. Time an
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354 travels can change the tune, but I will wager the pitch is as sweet as always.
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355 Welcome back Entropy.
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356 [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/] THE TIN MAN [/] [/]
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357 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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358 Beg pardon?
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359 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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360 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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361 The human body is both a terribly delicate and an incredibly tough organism.
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362 In the short term, at least, it can sustain incredible damage and still keep
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363 going. However, in the longer term, it can perish from absolutely no physical
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364 cause -- sheer loss of will to live. Such is the physical vehicle that we
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365 are/inhabit. Thousands of electrical, chemical, and electro-chemical systems
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366 feeding back to themselves both directly and indirectly -- the connectivity
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367 of these loops nearly impossible to comprehend.
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368 The piper should really be in no physical danger. His wound, while bleeding
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369 freely, was quite minor compared to that of his companion. He had lost some
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370 blood, true, but scarcely more than the typical person gives willingly when
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371 asked for that contribution for another's sake. More serious was the body's
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372 unwillingness to start again the processes of life.
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373 For a long (subjective as somehow the times did not fit) period, the piper's
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374 body had subsisted on the life of others. Somehow this life force had bathed
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375 each cell, freeing it from the bonds of metabolism. The collective entity
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376 that was the piper's body was rebelling against going off the dole. Each
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377 and every cell had to work again to sustain the whole, and resented the fact.
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378 Groups of cells (organs) periodically would refuse to function, then start
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379 again as the total life functions dropped till a critical threshold was
|
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380 reached. Wildly conflicting signals coursed through his body as overloaded
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381 regulatory systems searched for a state of homeostasis. Major muscle groups
|
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382 tensed against each other, sending his body taught; he convulsed as if trying
|
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383 to throw off unseen bonds.
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384 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
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385 above - ch taught/taut
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386 pppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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387 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====
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388 All: Hooray! I now have X-modem protocol, so I won't have to worry about the
|
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389 H's becoming X's and all those other nasty typos.
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390 Destroyer: Whew! For a minute there I thought that you were using my character,
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391 and I was a bit worried. Tell me, am I *I* supposed to be the "figure in the
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392 shadows?" I'd like to know before I write anything, as I wouldn't want to mess sia plot up.
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393 I'll try just posting an average entry, and if it causes problems with your
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394 story, you can adjust it and/or forget
|
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395 about it. Ok?
|
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396 :::::=====
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397 I gazed intently at the man who entered the Inn. He seemed to be somehow
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398 familiar, and I had txe distinct impression that I had seen him onece or twice
|
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399 before, though I couldn't quite tell where or when...
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400 Munching on an odd truffle, I noticed a large black box with a screen in
|
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401 the back corner of the Inn. As a approached, the machine suddenly sprang into
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402 life with a horrible sound. I jumped about 5 feet.
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403 Then suddenly, the screen flashed and bright gray (Rabbits are colorblind,
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404 words began to flash across` it.
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405
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406 To: Zephyr the rabbit
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407 From: Lady Tayree(?)
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408 Tele-Plane Message Service (c)
|
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409 Message follows:
|
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410 ZEPHYR.....
|
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411 We feel that the situation we are facing is much too dangerous for a small
|
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412 mammal like yourself. The dangers we are facing would most likely give you a heart attack...
|
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413 Trainor, Emu, Piper, Cragmore, Bard, Lady Tayree, Fencer, The Tin Man. (
|
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414 Hope We didn't miss any)
|
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415 TRANSEnds....
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416 Thank you for using the..
|
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417 Tele-Plane Message Service (c)
|
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418 Write again...
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419
|
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420 ...and the machine shut off. The words echoed in my mind. (For while I
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421
|
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422 bo
|
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423 (whoops) cannot read human writing, the machine also spoke. ) My fur ruffled up
|
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424 and I sneezed. Apparently the person with the pen and paper hadn't done a good
|
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425 enough job with cleaning up the Inn. I moved away from the machine and hopped up on my table, keeping a watchful eye on
|
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426 the human with the "shirt that had a smiley face on it...
|
|
427 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====
|
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428 Arrgh! Not quite fixed yet!
|
|
429 :::::=====
|
|
430 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
|
|
431 Ian: Message follows (I hope), note that the encryption system is the same,
|
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432 but the KEY IS NOT. The last key was some 23 letters long, and difficult to
|
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433 spell correctly.
|
|
434 BEGIN
|
|
435 yi\dy \ygra tukwx \aopr _udib nhtue vlij] bcl@d jrwgk h^[pg @@q^d ndsyz
|
|
436 whda_ ^w@ai @^hvo g@jfu ubrlm ]isja @yjzy yq[mu xz_@n o^vf@ uwipp tm@t]
|
|
437 xtwb@ tcu^t huwyh oejdn yfnko s[^n@ ysik\ [mo[s yjggn ]lrse soe^n @hadj
|
|
438 zgmjs xcart y[\q\ smjt[ _efc[ qxa^a @olvy tabai egcag tuuqi fsmki bu[rh
|
|
439 io\dk nl_[@ ky]nd re\d[ efpln n[xws ezo\a
|
|
440 END
|
|
441 There, a bit more for you to work with. Another shall be forthcoming.
|
|
442 [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ UNDERGROUND [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
|
|
443 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
|
444 I sat with the Doctor and Grann in the TARDIS' food preparation center (I
|
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445 still don't understand why the Doctor refuses to call it a kitchen), not
|
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446 at all refreshed from my sleep. I sipped a glass of orange juice and watched
|
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447 the others eat. I wasn't particularly hungry, anyway. Something had disturbed
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448 me in my sleep- but I did not know what it was. It wasn't a cheery feeling.
|
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449 "Whatza matter, Milch? You seem out of sorts today," the Doctor commented
|
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450 between bites of his rice crispies.
|
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451 "I'm not sure. It'll pass. Whoa!"
|
|
452 The TARDIS lurched violently, landing at our destination. I began reciting
|
|
453 the Clean cantrip to remove the bits of rice, and the Doctor began brushing off
|
|
454 my juice from his scarf. Grann had been quick enough to teleport out of the
|
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455 way of the flying food.
|
|
456 "Monitor on," the Doctor called out to the voice recognition units hidden
|
|
457 throughout the TARDIS. The nearest screen blinked on, and provided a view of
|
|
458 the glittering forest of the Diamond valley.
|
|
459 "You walked around in THAT?" the Doctor asked. "One false step and you could
|
|
460 cut off a limb."
|
|
461 "It's not as bad as all that, Doctor. Come on, let's go out and find our
|
|
462 energy source."
|
|
463 Soon, the Doctor and I were out among the sharp outcroppings of crystal.
|
|
464 Grann popped in and out, carrying a sack to put his findings in. I studied
|
|
465 the terrain for signs of the correct mineral deposits.
|
|
466 "None to be found hereabouts, Milchar!" Grann reported energetically, popping
|
|
467 in immediately behind me. My feet left the ground for an instant.
|
|
468 I turned around. "Are you quite sure?"
|
|
469 "Yes. The places such stones should be are... well, drained."
|
|
470 "Drained? What do you mean?"
|
|
471 "The stones that are there look half-molten, but are solid as they should be.
|
|
472 Almost as if... something had sucked at them, and almost succeeded in getting
|
|
473 them." Grann showed us a few specimens in his sack.
|
|
474 "Is the argentium all gone, then?" I threw one of the samples in a flash of
|
|
475 despair. It flew in a graceful arc into a nearby "tree" of crystal, and
|
|
476 shattered several "limbs" into a myriad of little shards.
|
|
477 Grann continued to report what he had seen.
|
|
478 "Er, Milch-" interrupted the Doctor.
|
|
479 "Yes?"
|
|
480 "Come look at this." He pointed at one of the shards.
|
|
481 I carefully lifted one of the pieces, and examined it. The branches had a
|
|
482 cellular structure much like their organic counterparts, but where the xylem
|
|
483 would have been on a plant... there were little veins of silvery material.
|
|
484 "Argentium, to be sure. The crystal structures must use it to aid in
|
|
485 supporting the huge weight of the limbs. By exerting power extracted from
|
|
486 the mineral, the limbs could make themselves nearly weightless. Each "tree"
|
|
487 probably contains as much as a kilogram of the stuff-"
|
|
488 We got to work, harvesting the strange crystal plants. After a few hours of
|
|
489 hard work (and a few dozen minor cuts and scrapes), the requisite amount of
|
|
490 argentium had been gathered.
|
|
491 ++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++++++ 14 Sept 85, 11:58am +++++++++++
|
|
492 [/]
|
|
493 CLEVER!
|
|
494 MODEM PROGRAM UPDATE-LAST
|
|
495 Mikey:Cheers here on this end. COPYLINK does work, it just requires very careful pressing of the control-break-char
|
|
496 key to activate escape sequence operations. I set the MULTI mode to off, and file transfer seems to work fine also.
|
|
497 With AMODEM and COPYLINK in the bag, I set to work on MEX. It turns out the reason it was locking up was that when
|
|
498 I replaced the Lobo Max-80 modem control instructions with LNW-80 instructions, there was a difference of one byte
|
|
499 in there somewhere, and since the code is an overlay, DB instructions must be used periodically to take up any slack
|
|
500 for each individual modem module. I adjusted the DBs to fit the memory map for the MEX overlay, it it now works fine!
|
|
501 As with COPYLINK, MEX requires very careful pressing of the escape key sequences, but it does work. So now I have
|
|
502 three modem programs for CP/M, but I will probably stick with COPYLINK most of the time. Thanks for the programs and
|
|
503 all the help you gave me.
|
|
504 MODEM PROGRAM UPDATE-LAST
|
|
505 I am not too sure what I am doing, so if I am erasing some other text,
|
|
506 RUBOUT
|
|
507
|
|
508 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
|
|
509 ********************************************************************************************************************
|
|
510
|
|
511 The clouds parted and he descended from another dimension, from a world not of our own nor even of our time.
|
|
512 And he said unto the inhabitants, where am I. There grunts and unintelligible giggles were mysteries to him.
|
|
513 He asked again. They responded with two-letter words and numbers that confused him yet even more. And the sky
|
|
514 turned gray. He said unto the masses, "What kind of BBS is this?" and they responded and welcomed him into
|
|
515 the new world. They showed him the secrets of story writing and the inner mysteries of their world, for their
|
|
516 world was Backwater Message System. Yet in another time there is still a man who does not yet know the proper
|
|
517 way to enter such a complex world. This very moment he is writing an appeal to them for help on learning the
|
|
518 true secrets of this other world, this completely different BBS. He wants to participate, but he hasn't learned
|
|
519 the true valor and courage necessary to enter this world. So this fledgeling, this seeker of wisdom and
|
|
520 adventure appeals to you now. "Show me the way and I shall follow." And his wounds ache. They continue to ache
|
|
521 until he receives a reply.
|
|
522
|
|
523 "Show me the way to live in your world."
|
|
524
|
|
525
|
|
526 Seeker of wisdom, adventure, and enlightenment.
|
|
527
|
|
528
|
|
529 ================Sir Palor=======================================================
|
|
530
|
|
531 __________________________________________________________________
|
|
532 Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but
|
|
533 getting what you have which once you have got it you may be
|
|
534 smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you
|
|
535 known. With this, Sir Palor, I greet thee. Nomenclature of
|
|
536 skies does nothing but confuse the very masses you wish to
|
|
537 appeal to. Welcome, and join in the festivities.
|
|
538 _________________________A WORD FROM THE WISE - PART XVIII________
|
|
539 ...................................................................
|
|
540 A different song, yes; but the voice is the same! Last Spring the
|
|
541 song was a dirge for a relationship; this Fall it is an ode to
|
|
542 rediscovery. More myself am I than ever before...and I LIKE IT!!!
|
|
543 Let the revels continue, and three cheers for all!
|
|
544 ................................Entropy.................................
|
|
545 3?
|
|
546 ok!
|
|
547 yaaaay!
|
|
548 ZEPHYR - YOU may now have the XMODEM protocol, but BWMS doesn't, so you are
|
|
549 still SOL.
|
|
550 +Dante-
|
|
551
|
|
552 Zephyr: the 'h' to 'x' change is not caused by your software. It is caused
|
|
553 your *hardware*, specificly by your modem. I used to have troubles with
|
|
554 that myself. What you need to do is take your modem in to get it serviced.
|
|
555 Tell them that the transmit level is too low.
|
|
556 It also helps to type slower. Or if you can, try writing a program that
|
|
557 sends a char, waits for BW to echo it, then sends the next char.
|
|
558 ______________________________Leonard______________________________________
|
|
559 ####################################################################
|
|
560
|
|
561 Warum sprechen so viele Leute Franzoesich? Ich denke, dass Deutsch
|
|
562 ist viel besser auss die andere Sprache.
|
|
563 ------------------------Sir Palor-------------------------------------
|
|
564 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
|
565 These pools that, though in forests, still reflect
|
|
566 The total sky almost without defect,
|
|
567 and like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,
|
|
568 will like the flowers beside them soon be gone,
|
|
569 and yet not out by any brook or river,
|
|
570 but up by roots to bring dark foliage on.
|
|
571
|
|
572 The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
|
|
573 to darken nature and be summer woods-
|
|
574 let them think twice before they use their powers
|
|
575 to blot out and drink up and sweep away
|
|
576 these flowery waters and these watery flowers
|
|
577 from snow that melted only yesterday.
|
|
578
|
|
579 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Darbon+++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
|
580 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.EmuLurk
|
|
581 9-14-85 8:33pm.-.-.-.-.-.-.
|
|
582 The music here is deafening. Thump and roar passes through walls
|
|
583 without effort. The rhythm stops for an interlude of complete chaos
|
|
584 and then back to a foced up-slide. Tension is released as the music
|
|
585 blares its farewell. As the music fades, voices in the hall take over
|
|
586 with shouts and drunken discussions. The inhabitants never close the
|
|
587 doors, but leave them open for all to hear. Loud footsteps echo through
|
|
588 the hall. Footsteps blend with pounding on protective walls. And the
|
|
589 clatter of alcohol moving in and amongst those outside forces laughs
|
|
590 and yet louder shouts from the hosts. The door is as protective as the
|
|
591 walls and gives a feeling of security although it lets in the din
|
|
592 outside. Silence pours in from the window. The window is fully open,
|
|
593 but does better when the door is open too. Yet the security of the door
|
|
594 will not be breached. So the sounds continue and plumbing joins in
|
|
595 chorus. There is a desire to go out in the hall, but the sounds are more
|
|
596 powerful than the desire. So the desire is stilled. And I am as still
|
|
597 as my desire.
|
|
598
|
|
599 A true account.
|
|
600
|
|
601
|
|
602 Can you guess what the scene above describes?
|
|
603
|
|
604 <<< Palor >>>
|
|
605
|
|
606
|
|
607
|
|
608 =======================================================================
|
|
609 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
|
|
610 qsvlx ]y]^y oid_d rakay _vlau turrt ^^hjx dbav] ohvfy z_]kn d\i\x s@haf
|
|
611 mehen phu]f vyz\\ ldau] nnwpn ]@wms a[ajv @@\d[ zqe]t @[fzo cwly_ bmnvy
|
|
612 hcapn ymfq@ jslwk k]okr wtedf s_u[n uw]]x gloa\ wv^fk phama gyd\e csvtn
|
|
613 sbdmi ]o][s v]gkp fysi_ _a[me tcu^c ill\y @vfpr _hdgn msp@@ xt_ef k_ky_
|
|
614 zcjq\ omjzp v]dkm pmudi zrqhg nuyfp vo[mm lmmvm lgrqm z]jet enipe aufj]
|
|
615 vrvei nv\as _tfd] th_fx wdwqk [bglt eyjmc ]aamt sraai ]^\uh bbh_t qhsiw
|
|
616 un\c@ am]va r]dv^ t]
|
|
617 [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ UNDERGROUND [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
|
|
618 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
|
|
619 Entropy: Welcome Back! -Tanya
|
|
620 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
|
|
621 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (words missed)
|
|
622 Yes, a word missed -- but not forgotten. Nor would the name have been lost...
|
|
623 An echo of Tanya's words. Welcome home.
|
|
624 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian -107:03:10:17
|
|
625 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
|
626 Add yet another voice of welcome. You have been missed, my Lady Entropy.
|
|
627 Adrian
|
|
628 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
|
629 + + + at the bottom, a last word of welcome. The Harlequin + + +
|
|
|
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629
|