637 lines
39 KiB
Plaintext
637 lines
39 KiB
Plaintext
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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
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2 ************************* INSTALLED: 12 DEC 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 Ripple: L'homme says that you had a question on COPYLINK. Anything I can help with?
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21 *********************************** CISTOP MIKEY ********************************
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22 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -JUGGLER- -+- -+- -+-
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23 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\27
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24 "...kill him. I'll kill him..."
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25 "Kill who?"
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26 James jolted awake when he realized that he had been actually speaking. He relaxed when he saw that it wasn't
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27 Putzie standing over him. It was a much older man, more than a little overweight with a receding white hairline and a
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28 neat, greying beard. He had a warm, friendly twinkle in his eye that would put the most nervous patient to ease. "Oh.
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29 Hi, Doc Kanden."
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30 Doc Kanden had a small medical scanner that he was studying. After a moment, he looked up. "You sounded pretty
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31 upset. Who is it that you are intending to kill in my hospital?"
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32 "Three guesses." James replied grumpily. Despite his aggravation, he actually felt much better.
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33 "I see. Why you two can't get along is beyond me. By the way, I've turned off the neutralizer. Try to move your
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34 left arm, just a little."
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35 James slowly raised his hand and his back started throbbing immediately. He tried to move it across his chest. Then
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36 he felt pain. No, he felt Pain. In a pinched voice, he said, "Hurts, Doc."
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37 "As well it should." Doc Kanden grabbed his wrist and gently placed he arm back where it was. The pain quickly
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38 subsided to excruciating. "But you are still healing amazingly fast. Only five days and you are already halfway to
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39 being discharged. Anybody else I'd expect to still be critical. You were very badly hurt. Willerd did a masterful job
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40 of patching you up."
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41 "Yeah, I guess he did. But I sure ain't gonna tell him."
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42 Doc Kanden sighed, "I didn't really think so."
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43 As he started to leave, James called out "Wait."
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44 Doc turned around grimly. He already knew what James was going to ask.
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45 "What about the rest?"
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46 Doc suddenly looked and sounded much older. "It doesn't look good. The force you were using to sustain yourself has
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47 been badly depleted and you lost some ground. From the looks of things you probably cut your remaining time down by a
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48 quarter."
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49 James was silent, trying to let it soak in. A quarter...
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50 Doc Kanden continued, "I'm sorry..."
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51 James waved him off. "Don't be. I'd... just like to be alone for a while."
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52 The doctor left quietly and James was left alone with his thoughts again.
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53 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\THE DESTROYER\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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54 """"""""""""""""""
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55 Juggler: Nice entry on the last disk.
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56 """"""""""""""""""SOLI
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57 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
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58
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59 Franklin Pervis eased into his comfortable old work chair and flicked on the
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60 word processor in front of him. Already , his first article had provided a
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61 few leads... as well as more than a few crackpot calls from people either
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62 claiming to be Delta V or those who swore he had killed their mother not
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63 three or four weeks ago.
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64
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65 He stared at the papers in front of him. He glanced at a plain white card,
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66 sent to him from some guy named Nick Young. Pervis chuckled and muttered to
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67 himself about the crackpots who come out of the woodwork claiming to know
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68 something about everything but who in fact only want to see their name in
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69 the paper. He tossed the card in the round file and continued leafing through
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70 the papers.
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71
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72 The memo from Scotland Yard intrigued him most. His source was impeccable, and
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73 Franklin noted wryly that suddenly his subject was under the scrutiny of a lot
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74 of different people around the world. He didn't know if it was due to his
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75 article or not, and he didn't care.
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76
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77 He just wasn't sure whether he really wanted to be investigating this man,
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78 he could almost feel the presence of him around every corner. His stench
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79 of death pervaded every sense of Franklin Pervis' being.
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80
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81 He wiped his brow and began his second entry, in what he hoped would be a
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82 continuing series of articles.
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83
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84 But he could never quite shake that feeling of dread...
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85
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86 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
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87 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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88 Nick Young strode forcefully up to the receptionist's desk in the
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89 lobby of the local rag.
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90 "Frankilin Pervis?" He quizzed the lady there.
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91 She pointed. "Thanks..." Nick tipped his hat and strode off in the
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92 direction she had indeicated.
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93 PEN NAME
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94 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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95 WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NICK THING WITH THE CRITICS?
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96
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97 TRIPPING ON BOOKS by Clark
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98
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99 I...have...fallen into the book, but that's impossible!!! I mean it's
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100 a great book and all but people just don't go around falling into the
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101 plots of the books they read. This can't be happening! There must be
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102 another explanation...
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103 "How would you answer the question Mr Gray?"
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104 He was asking Tim to respond to the question! Panic has a way of
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105 clogging the throat of even the most talkative student. Panic over the
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106 question; panic over the whole situation.
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107 "I am sorry, could you repeat the question?"
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108 "Certainly Mr Gray, but next time pay a little more attention if you
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109 will. The question concerns the roots of our new State Act in the
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110 redistribution-of-wealth movements starting late 1988."
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111 Shit! It's only 1985. Or it was only 1985. Er, I have only lived to
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112 1985. What am I going to...
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113 "The class is waiting. Certainly you remember the Frenchman I.M.
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114 Meager's movements of the period? It was he who was mainly responsible for
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115 most of the uprisings across Europe."
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116 "Yes, of course. Meager... Well I would say the new Act is the
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117 State's effort to redistribute the wealth of the people into... the
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118 government's hands. I mean that's what it looks like to me. It's like the
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119 Infernal Revenue Service in the eighties, only worse. Now they want
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120 everything!"
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121 A silenced hush fell over the classroom. Tim then realized what he
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122 just said could probably be construed as treason under the new government.
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123 Normally he would never think of acting treasonable, but this was anything
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124 but normal.
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125 "Very interesting observation Tim. I would like to talk to you after
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126 class, if you wouldn't mind."
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127 Tim could hardly believe it. "Sure." was the only thing he could
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128 manage to mutter.
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129 The class then went on almost as if nothing happened. Tim did
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130 notice that a few of the other students in the classroom stole occasional
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131 glances at him though.
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132 After class Tim crammed all of his books, including his copy of
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133 "George's War", into a red vinyl-like carrying bag. He stayed seated while
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134 professor Gratis talked to a few students at the front of the room. Soon
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135 the lingering students left, and George made his way to where Tim sat.
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136 George Gratis was about 6 feet tall. His hair was closely cropped,
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137 but his full beard did not share the same careful attention. He wore the
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138 same brown fatigues that everyone else wore, including Tim. Instead of the
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139 clothes appearing almost tailor-made like they did for the other students,
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140 George's hung from his large frame in unruly patterns. George sat at on a
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141 desk opposite of Tim's seat.
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142 "That was a very interesting answer you gave today Tim. How long
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143 have you felt this way about the government." Professor Gratis spoke in
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144 hushed tones, as if wanting to keep this conversation for Tim's ears only.
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145 What could Tim say that wouldn't sound crazy? He had been transported
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146 into a science fiction book twelve years in the future. He was sitting before
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147 the main character in the book, discussing treasonable subjects regarding
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148 the State. Tim was sitting with a professor in a classroom like he had a
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149 hundred times in three and a-half years at his university. Tim was in
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150 another world, and he didn't know quite what to say.
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151
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152 <To be continued>
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153
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154 TRIPPING ON BOOKS
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155
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156 *****************************************************************************
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157 __________________________________________________________________
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158 NET INTERNAL MEMO
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159 FM : RESEARCH
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160 TO : MR. MacHinery
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161
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162 Apparently those jokers at undergound are at it again. Ears
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163 have picked up increased transmission on their broascast lines,
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164 and content seems to be regarding the Delta 5/Wassir/European
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165 affair. Since the crypto department broke their code last summer,
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166 we have had little trouble keeping tabs on underground, but their
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167 interference on this matter could cause complications. May we
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168 remind you of the infamous 'Stumblefoot' incident two years ago
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169 involving that underground agent who managed to fall into a
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170 firefight between NET agents and the Dangerfield kamakazi squad.
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171 The complete report is contained online under /fool/org.
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172 __________________________________________________________________
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173
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174 .asmic delight.
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175 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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176 "I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. Pervis, but this was just delivered and the
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177 messenger said you'd want to see it immediately...." Pervis opened the large manila envelope and
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178 extracted to contents. A photograph fell out and landed at the feet of the man
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179 who was sitting across from Franklin. He picked it up, gasped, and fell back into his chair. He
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180 had instantly recognized the woman and two children posed standing in front of the nearly new
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181 frame house... Franklin too, was looking at a photograph, and was equally paled. He quickly invest-
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182 igated the other items on his desk. There were two keys. His heart sank, and he shuddered. The
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183 key was distinct, it was an Abloy, tho only pickproof lock on the market, and there was a number
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184 scratched on it. It was his house number. The note was one typewritten sheet, and said simply,
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185 "Mr. Pervis, Mr
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186 Young. I believe you understand what is meant by the items in front of you. Now. My "threat" was
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187 intended to scare you, and only that. I do not go around offing people unless they are an immediate
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188 threat to me. I see I have succeeded in making you understand what it is like to live with fear.
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189 I livw with it every day of my life. I was never going to kill you, Pervis. I will not kill you
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190 nor will I interfere in your life in any way, as long as you leave me alone. And when I give my
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191 word, I keep it. You will find this to be true when you recieve the communique that was recently
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192 sent to you from Scotland Yard."
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193 The note went on to say" This is to you, Mr. Young. You are way out of your league. Leave it
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194 alone or you will not live to see Christmas, and I think yhe people in the photo will miss you.
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195 There was no signature, but scotch taped to the botom of the page was a triangle made of yellow
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196 plastic. Engraved in the center was the Roman numeral five.
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197
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-+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
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198 SOLI, thanks... (Even if I did repeat myself at
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199 the bottom there. Second phones aren't great for
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200 maintaining trains of thought.)
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201 Dr. Frankenstupe; Oh, I'm around, just not as much
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202 as I used to be. Writer's block hits everyone.
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203 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
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204
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IS CBBS/ALOHA DOWN, OR WHAT?
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205 ______________________________JD 2446411.9138____________________________
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206 DON'T KNOW, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ON FOR SVERAL DAYS.
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207
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208 o
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209 ?
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210
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211 q
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212 /o
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213
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214
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215
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216
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217
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218 off
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219
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220 h
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221 Outside the night was as black as a coal miners tee-shirt and the rain was
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222 coming down in sheets. An occasional stab of lighting would fill the room
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223 with white light. The room was a well appointed library with all the
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224 trimmings you had grown accustomed to seeing in all those old black and
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225 white mystery movies of the late thirties and early forties. Only this was
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226 no play-it-for-fun mystery where everyone went home at the conclusion and
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227 had a nice warm meal then went to bed with the little woman for a nice bit
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228 of tail and a long snooze.
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229 You were standing in the middle of the room looking down at the very
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230 ugly and very dead body of what had been up until about what appeared to be
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231 about an hour or two ago your not so loving ex-wife. She wore a death
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232 grimmace for a smile, not unlike the only smile she ever gave you when she
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233 was living. A hard thought to have at a time like this, but all you could
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234 think of was how you would not have to make out this months alimony check
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235 after all.
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236 The call came into your home phone at 1:00 am not two hours after you
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237 had gone to bed after a long day up the gorge on an insurance investigation
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238 for one of the wealthy Japanese fruit growers having a problem with some of
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239 his hispanic pickers claiming a bad back after a fall from a ladder. Yes,
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240 you had come to this. Not the glamorus image everyone has of a private
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241 investigator. No Magnum PI this. The voice on the other end of the line
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242 told you in a strangely artificial tone that should meet this person at
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243 the Zinns residence in one hour if you were available and interested in a
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244 considerable fee. Fee, that was the magic word and you were off without a
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245 second thought. Your first mistake. Not however the last.
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246
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247 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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248 Actually, this should be before piper's last entry...
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249 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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250 Cragmore, Emu and Bard headed back into the control room in
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251 silence. The trip was soon to be over, and Emu was a little
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252 disappointed. After seeing that their leader was alright and had
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253 reconciled himself with Aedem, Emu knew that there would be little
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254 more to the trip than setting the coordinates for the Inn and and 'hit
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255 the GO button'.
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256 Home. remembered the strange circumstances under which they left.
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257 The Zephyr the rabbit had almost ruined the mission before it had even
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258 started. "He's probably still there whimpering away." Emu thought out
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259 loud. "I wonder... when did we leave..."
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260 Cragmore and Bard weren't sure what Emu was mumbling about as he
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261 seated himself into the pilot's chair, but they did see a snicker
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262 suddenly replaced the sullen look that he wore.
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263 "Set positional coordinates for the Inn, Bard. See how close you
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264 can come to our point of departure." Emu almost seemed to swagger with
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265 the order.
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266 "Aye-aye, captain!" Bard returned, getting into the newfound
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267 spirit. Emu set a couple dials very carefully. Bard thought he heard
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268 Emu mumble something about landing "sur un lapin", but didn't catch
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269 the whole phrase. As Cragmore went back to see what Trainor was
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270 calling for, the proverbial switch was "flicked" and they were on
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271 their way home.
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272 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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273
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274 Sitting in front of a small inn, Jedediah Robinson watched the
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275 rabbit. It had just caused quite a commotion, and it had been a long
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276 time since Jed had heard such angry words this close to the Rowan
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277 tree. Ever since he came on as gardener, he had never seen the old
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278 tree look as wilted as it did just now, just after that nasty scene.
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279 The rabbit had almost gotten itself killed, pulling those
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280 manipulation tricks. It was a case of trying to be too cute. The
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281 rabbit thought that it could flash its pretty little eyes and the
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282 travelers would give him anything he wanted. But they didn't let him
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283 get away with it. No, they caught on right quick, though they had
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284 trouble getting rid of the little pest. They didn't want anything
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285 manipulating them, and they kicked him out of their ship.
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286 Jed knew what it felt like to be manipulated, and felt little
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287 sympathy for the rabbit. It had been treated more than fairly, after
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288 what it had done. Now, it just sat and whimpered, sniffling at the
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289 recently vacanted lawn. Remembering that the back corral still needed
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290 mending, Jed started for the workshed.
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291 The rabbit sat there for another moment or two, nibbled another
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292 blade of grass, and headed for the door of the inn. After a short
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293 time, the door was opened and he slipped in through a magician's feet.
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294
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295 A sparkling was first heard, then seen. The recognizable shift in
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296 the wavelength of light foretold the arrival of a time machine. It
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297 slowly began to take shape, and soon was fully materialized. The
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298 artwork on the outsides of the timeship, when seen by even the most
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299 unimaginative eye, depicted several scenes involving both human and
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300 animal-like bodies in very compromising positions.
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301 Presently, the door slid open and several very weary looking
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302 travelers stepped into the open. One was very audible in expressing
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303 its delight in "only missing ten minutes of drinking time, but darn
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304 it, we missed the damn rabbit!" The others nodded and chuckled, and
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305 all headed into the inn.
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306
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307 The travelers didn't notice the slim figure slip out of the
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308 machine after them. Dressed in a black full length robe, it went
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309 directly to the Rowan tree, where it snapped off a small sprig.
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310 Turning away, the hood was let down to reveal a beautiful young woman
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311 with raven hair. She kissed the sprig and held it carefully up to
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312 her rounded bosum. With a wink and a sigh, the woman disappeared.
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313 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.Emu
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314
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315 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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316 I do believe that the pellmell adventure is finally over. The almost total
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317 lack of action was quite tedious. Well written, at times (thanks to OMNI
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318 and piper), but rather boring. Maybe you guys should get together next
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319 time and hash out the outline first.
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320 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>...psu-cs!nelsons<><><>
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321 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))
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322 Juggler: CALL!!!.
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323 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))
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324 Mikey: I will fill you in on all the details on LeNerd
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325 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))((( Ripple )))
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326 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
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327 And speaking of Le Nerd... Comments await. Etc., etc., etc.
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328 By the way, I disclaim ln22. (DE 22 & this one) Yet another phaker.
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329 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
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330 "If you look closely, I think you'll notice the ligts of the Inn
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331 shining through the trees. Not much farther to go now," I puffed as I
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332 made my way to keep up with the pixie that had a lead on me going back up
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333 the hill.
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334 "I know, I can see it now! Do you think there'll be anyone left when
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335 we get there?" There was anticipation in her voice. And rightfully so.
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336 "Oh I'm almost positive. I can't imagine the Inn being empty...
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337 Well, the machine that came along and took away some of our regulars may
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338 have dimmed the spirit there, but it'll never go out."
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339 "Not unless the Innkeeper locks up the doors before we get there..."
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340 "You've heard about that? Galloping ghosts! That's been almost a
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341 year ago now," I replied.
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342 "What has? Have I heard about what?" She turned and stopped, wait-
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343 ing for me to catch up to her.
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344 "Let's get to the Inn before I tell you about it, it's a long story.
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345 One I hope that'll never have to be lived again..." We fell silent until
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346 we would at last reach the doorway.
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347 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -JUGGLER- -+- -+- -+-
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348
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349 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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350 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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351 Yes, the Pell-Mell adventure seems to be done. Good point about getting
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352 together about plot lines -- a slight problem is that I don't venture into
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353 the wilds of P---land unless it's unavoidable. Sigh. Coordination through
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354 story entries seems to be a major problem...
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355 On a different level, however --
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||
356 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
357 Several beings were gathered around *SOMETHING*. A merely human observer
|
||
358 would have seen but little -- a slight discoloration in the air, the color
|
||
359 of a muted sigh, and heard less. However, a being with the senses to
|
||
360 percieve these sentiences, decode their communications, and convert the
|
||
361 objects they were regarding to human frames of reference would have overheard
|
||
362 the following conversation:
|
||
363 "Well, Galdrian, we've got them all back to the Inn."
|
||
364 "Yes. Mostly undamaged, too."
|
||
365 "What about that one?"
|
||
366 "Where?"
|
||
367 "There. The one that used to play the strange musical instrument."
|
||
368 "It was just cut up slightly. The stiffness will wear off in a few weeks
|
||
369 and it will be able to play the pipes again."
|
||
370 "I don't mean physically. You've gotten it pretty emotionally messed up and
|
||
371 it won't be good for much now."
|
||
372 Peering into the discolored air, the two beings studied the swirling chaos
|
||
373 that represented the subject of their discussion.
|
||
374 "Look, Galdrian, you've gotten some unattainable object tangled up with
|
||
375 the sex drive and wound in all the affection potentials. It's glued in with
|
||
376 stuff from a life-threatening situation and tied up with a huge knot of guilt.
|
||
377 This thing is liable to self-destruct on us!"
|
||
378 Peering closer, "You're right. It doesn't have the backbone to survive in
|
||
379 that state!."
|
||
380 "Well, Galdrian, what are you going to do about it?"
|
||
381 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
382 Ignoring the pain from his arm and the disapproval in the Innkeeper's eyes,
|
||
383 the piper stumbled across the floor to the taps, carrying his emptied container.
|
||
384 Reluctantly, the Inkeeper drew the ale into the jack and passed it back to
|
||
385 the piper, along with some friendly advice that the piper ignored.
|
||
386 Stumbling back to his solitary table, the piper sought forgetfulness in the
|
||
387 arms of alcohol.
|
||
388 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
389 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
|
||
390 And amidst the hustle and bustle of all these creatures at the inn, was the
|
||
391 steady pounding of a hammer, as Bear fixed up the floor he had destroyed
|
||
392 earlier. Everyone pretty much ignored him, stepping around the hole as if
|
||
393 it was merely a minor incovenience.
|
||
394
|
||
395 Bear sat by the now much-smaller hole and sighed.
|
||
396
|
||
397 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
|
||
398
|
||
399 OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI
|
||
400 "Fellow adventurers, please lend me your attention." Trainor had hopped up
|
||
401 on one of the oaken tables so he could survey the entire crowded Inn. "I know
|
||
402 you wish to retire to the Roman baths and elsewhere for rest and relaxation,
|
||
403 but I wish to say a couple things before I must leave."
|
||
404 For one of the few times in the history of the Inn, a majority of the
|
||
405 inngoers turned their heads and ears towards the speaker asking for attention.
|
||
406 It was an incredible sight, and Trainor knew he must hurry his words before he
|
||
407 lost the tiny span of attention the others had seen fit to give him.
|
||
408 "You all know what we have been through. We have all suffered," stealing
|
||
409 a glance at the down-trodden piper "and some have suffered more than others.
|
||
410 But still we go on. Look back, just for a moment, and see what we accomplished.
|
||
411 Our group was as diverse as any ever assembled, yet we functioned, and we did
|
||
412 end the threat of terror from the creature from Zeb. We also freed a young
|
||
413 woman from a bond too horrible to fathom. We have done something grand and we
|
||
414 have done something small, and I will leave it up to you to equate which was
|
||
415 which. I have come to know all of you, and in doing so I am that many times
|
||
416 better. You have all enriched me, and I am grateful. You have helped me with
|
||
417 my quest, and I am grateful. You have healed me from wounds so deep I knew not
|
||
418 what to do, and I am grateful. So goodbye my friends. May your paths cross
|
||
419 the stars and my your lives be fullfilling and happy."
|
||
420 With those final words Trainor departed from the Inn. The others were a
|
||
421 bit silent, but slowly conversation turned to other things. Soon laughs and
|
||
422 shouts rang from all corners; yes, the adventurers were home.
|
||
423 No one noticed the Pell-mell fade on the grassy knoll outside the Inn. One
|
||
424 moment it was there, the next it was gone. It was just as well, the Pell-mell
|
||
425 adventure was best left to the story tellers anyway.
|
||
426
|
||
427 OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI OMNI
|
||
428 %*_#)*%@#_)%*_@#)%*)_#*%!%_)!*%_)^%)_!*%!_)*%_!)#*%_!)%_)!#%*!_)%*_#)%*_@#)%*_*%@_#)%*)_*^@#)_*@#_)*
|
||
429 Ripple: I'll call too.
|
||
430 Voyeur: I have some archive disks for you.
|
||
431 *%_)*%@#_*%@_)#*%_@)#*_)@#*^_)*!)_#*^@)_!*^@_)^* L'homme sans Parity %*#_@)%*_@#*%@#)_*_)@#*@#)_^*@)
|
||
432 (((*))(((*)))
|
||
433 L'homme: Good I hope so.
|
||
434 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))((( Ripple )))
|
||
435 |||||||||||||||||||||| Checking in... |||||||||||| Checking out... || PEN NAME |
|
||
436 I remember a long time ago, when there were a number of inn-goers who braved the
|
||
437 impending doom of downtown, fought off the vagrants muggers and other denziens
|
||
438 of that hot bed of crime, and sheathing their swords, made their way into the anctuar
|
||
439 y of the library. Some of you may remember, that great hall with the lecturn at the
|
||
440 front, and the ebb and flow of conversation-have you read the newest hitchhiker
|
||
441 book, and Henlein has...All sorts of people, looking around to see who showed up
|
||
442 and who didn't. And after a time of announcements and entertainment, they all retired
|
||
443 to the warm, lay-back atmosphere off another inn. One that has, sadly, fallen by
|
||
444 the wayside, but never forgotten. It was too long ago, when I had just gotten my
|
||
445 first modem, and had first visited the inn. Whom do I remember? Piper? Loam? Mic
|
||
446 (as in church)char, Petrov, Dreamtoucher, the Bard,Ninja, Gaudy Minsky,and how
|
||
447 many others? So what ever happened? I read that some story lines are all but dead.
|
||
448 Stories from way back. Reflections of 'old timers' and regulars. And then someone
|
||
449 suggests,perhaps, a collaberation. Compare notes. The Pxoenix stone glows wherever
|
||
450 it may be. And a certain Net agent still terrorizes the populace with a supercharged
|
||
451 Mustang. Think about it, old timers, and maybe make it to the PorSfIs meeting one
|
||
452 of these Saturdays.
|
||
453 [*=*] [*=*] [*=*] [*=*] [*=*] [*=*] LYSIAS [*=*] [*=*] [*=*]
|
||
454 """"""""""""""""""SOLI
|
||
455 *********************************************************************
|
||
456 Ripple: OK, I'll look for the msg. (Just called, and didn't see anything
|
||
457 But I didn't look under anything but my name (Mike Day). So I'll check
|
||
458 again tomorrow.
|
||
459 ************************* CISTO MIKEY *******************************
|
||
460 Well, as for the Phoenix gem I have been awaiting some missing archives
|
||
461 before picking up *that* subplot again. As I recall, it was last seen in
|
||
462 a high order Slaver stasis field (approx 1e-50 of normal time flow).
|
||
463 But the situation was very complicated & I'd have to peruse the archives
|
||
464 (which I don't have yet! Are you listening O Great Distributor of Disks)
|
||
465 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
466
|
||
467 O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+
|
||
468 Absent due to a lost terminal program.
|
||
469 Just checking in.
|
||
470 12-13-85 9:37 pm
|
||
471 O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+ POPPING IN O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+
|
||
472 1e-49+? I think. Only Mikey knows. Is it really the Bard?
|
||
473 HEY EVERYBODY,REMEMBER ME? I WAS A TWIT,BUT I GREW UP. ILL BE LEAVING YOU MESSAGES.
|
||
474 #####TEDDY SALAD######
|
||
475
|
||
476 I have been a rover; I have walked alone.
|
||
477 Hiked a hundred highways;never found a home.
|
||
478 Still in all I'm happy, the reason is, you see;
|
||
479 Once in a while along the way, Loves been good to me.
|
||
480 There was a girl in Denver, before the summer storm and OH her arms were tender, oh
|
||
481 her arms were warm. And she could laugh away the thunder, and smile away the rain;
|
||
482 And even though she's gone away, you wont hear me complain. *BLUE EYES*
|
||
483 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
|
||
484 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (distractions)
|
||
485 There was something definitely wrong about the way this has all ended
|
||
486 was the thought that ran through the Innkeepers mind as he buffed the last
|
||
487 of the few glasses that had been cleaned earlier. Although the friends
|
||
488 that had been dearly missed have now been delivered home safely there was
|
||
489 still an aprehension that gripped him.
|
||
490 A hand amoung the crowd is raised with the request that yet more
|
||
491 refreshments me dispersed within these gay walls of merriment. The Inn-
|
||
492 keeper turned to place the clean glass back on the shelf and picked up two
|
||
493 more tankards for the Inn's famous ales. He paused and took an one extra.
|
||
494 Before leaving his place from behind the counter to mingle with the
|
||
495 customers that filled the numerous tables he returned to the shelf one
|
||
496 more time. "This ought to do the trick," he thought to himself.
|
||
497 Passing the laughter and exchanging smiles the Innkeeper made his way
|
||
498 to those that had beckoned for his spirits. The filled tankards were
|
||
499 placed on the tabletop, the empties gathered, and the surface wiped dry
|
||
500 with a rapid stroke of a smeared bar towel. Now for the extra drink...
|
||
501 Making his way even further back he soon came upon the one that had
|
||
502 returned in silence. Sequestered to imbibe in peace, this one might not
|
||
503 have even noticed the approach for his thoughts were truly elsewhere.
|
||
504 Placing the filled container to one side of the one that remained still
|
||
505 half-filled, the Innkeeper placed the special object he had taken from the
|
||
506 shelf upon the table and nudged it a bit with a carefull dabbing of his
|
||
507 tattered towel.
|
||
508 "I hope that this may in some small way," said the Innkeeper softly,
|
||
509 "return a small piece of life to your sadenned brow... You left this here
|
||
510 quite some time ago. Oh, and welcome back. Glad am I to see you once
|
||
511 again." He stopped dabbing at the equestrian figure that sat on the table
|
||
512 and headed back to the chores that continued to gather now that he was
|
||
513 to tend to the Inn alone. "Someone around here deserves to be happy,"
|
||
514 he thought to himself with a deep sigh.
|
||
515 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->one who remembers 348:08
|
||
516 _____Leonard_____: glad to see that someone else has picked up on my
|
||
517 system. Pick up the ball and run with it, I say.
|
||
518 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 348:ex
|
||
519
|
||
520 ooops, ch /me dispersed/be dispersed/; ch /took an one/took one/ >G
|
||
521
|
||
522 """"""""""""""""""SOLI
|
||
523 ch /ooops/oooops/
|
||
524 what good is ^ that command? From what
|
||
525 I see it | does absolutely no
|
||
526 good. ch / / / ha!
|
||
527 /\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
|
||
528 Yet, the image of fire prevailed in my mind: the smoke mingling with
|
||
529 grayness and the flames burning away the night. The skies would be set to
|
||
530 life by the dancing fire, no clouds would hang over the day as a presentiment
|
||
531 to failure. But instead of this, the flames bruned slowly behind the clouds,
|
||
532 afraid to show themselves to my longing eyes. So my eyes burned with the
|
||
533 misplaced fire.
|
||
534 "No," I said to the nothingness around me, "no. I don't like this
|
||
535 void." How long? Lifetimes, had it been since I had looked into the eye of
|
||
536
|
||
537 The shadows moved around me, no longer deathly spectres that seemed
|
||
538 to follow my every footstep, they appeared gain a sense of reality. Taking on
|
||
539 a distinctive form, a person melted from the shadows.
|
||
540 /\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\ eidolaz /\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
|
||
541 /to failure/of failure// eye of/ eye of a stranger? A friend?//
|
||
542 Ahem... sorry /\\
|
||
543 Mein Gott, was is los hier? Wo ist das gerschreibensers, und das mit 's gerkeyschtrokensersiens? Fur w
|
||
544
|
||
545 was is das "Bachenwasser"? Ich kleinen Inglish sprechen, und bin hier fur how you say, little while.
|
||
546 Ist Deutschers hier mit Ich kann kommunikate?, as sie Amerikanish sprechen. Das 'bachenwasser ist gut, ja?
|
||
547 Ich bien *Hans* und will haben kommeradens hier, Amerikaners, Ja?Bitte.
|
||
548 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))
|
||
549 Mikey : The msg is there now on b6. Talk with you there
|
||
550 (((*)))
|
||
551 Juggler : Should I try and go from here or is it still your turn?
|
||
552 can you get me a printed copy?
|
||
553 (((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))(((*)))((( Ripple )))
|
||
554 The materials were as easy to come by as always. He contemplated their use. He really didn't want to, but there
|
||
555 was no choice. He walked down Division past 140th and reflected on his day. A typical day in New York City...
|
||
556 Just after going through Hunters Gate into Central Park, he was accosted by two would be muggers. "Gimme your
|
||
557 wallet, M-----F-----. Same old thing, but Delta V was tired of it all. He just wanted to be left alone, and
|
||
558 this was too much. "Come get it, scum bag" Everyone in the big apple called everyone else "scum bag";or so it
|
||
559 seemed. They just didn't understand. One had a knife, the other Nunchukas, swinging them as he attacked. The
|
||
560 Walther barked twice, and Central Park had two less muggers.
|
||
561 The thrift store clothes, and two days without shaving gave him the appearance he wanted. He fit in. The
|
||
562 desk clerk was as suspicious as always, but the green picture of Grant dispelled any prelimenaries.
|
||
563 He remembered the manuals; he didn't need to, but h did. Sulfuric acid, distilled water, and the sodium cyanide.
|
||
564 He sat at the small desk and put together his weapon. Again, he remembered the 'manual'. It's what they use
|
||
565 in the gas chamber, acid and cyanide. Mix the two, and the vapors kill the condemned man. The solution that
|
||
566 is left is Hydrocyanic acid. Sometimes called 'Prussic' acid. He carefully sucked it into the #5 syringe, and
|
||
567 set it aside. It was time for sleep. As he dozed of, he remembered the much publicised umbrella incident.
|
||
568 Spray the solution into the victims face, and he dies of a "heart attack". Unless the ME is specifically looking
|
||
569 for it, it will pass as just another heart attack. Case closed.
|
||
570 Tomorrow, he would return to Switzerland and kill two men who were a threat to his life.
|
||
571 He laid back on the rumpled mattress, and slipped into sleep, and as he did, he wondered...How many more do
|
||
572 I have to kill? Only his tremendous self control kept him from vomiting from the revulsion of taking human
|
||
573 lives. He only wanted to kill one man. McKane. And he would. There was never any doubt. But untill then, many
|
||
574 others would force his hand. And die.
|
||
575 Delta Five fell asleep wishing this were not real...
|
||
576 D DDD
|
||
577 DDVDD
|
||
578
|
||
579 It isn't...
|
||
580 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
|
||
581 To all Apple owners
|
||
582 Free Free Free Free CP/M80 Board By
|
||
583 PCPI when you buy Wordstar* for
|
||
584 $98.00
|
||
585 These are all new and fresh factory
|
||
586 sealed items with full waranty.
|
||
587 Call (503) 292-xxxx and ask
|
||
588 for William.
|
||
589
|
||
590
|
||
591 Save
|
||
592
|
||
593
|
||
594
|
||
595
|
||
596
|
||
597
|
||
598
|
||
599
|
||
600
|
||
601
|
||
602
|
||
603
|
||
604
|
||
605
|
||
606
|
||
607
|
||
608
|
||
609
|
||
610
|
||
611
|
||
612
|
||
613
|
||
614 Help
|
||
615
|
||
616 *%)_*%@)_*%@)_#*%)_@*)_!@*%!+*%@&%_@)#*@_)#*@#&^_@)*!)_*%)_@#(*@^_@)&^_)*%@#_%*_)#^@_*^#$_)^_)*@#_^*_^*#$_^*
|
||
617 Delta5: A new direction in your story? I like very much. Keep it up, as you are not the only person of
|
||
618 particular persuasion attempting a bit of an image change. YKWIM?
|
||
619 Ripple: Got it, sometime today?
|
||
620 Leonard: I don't think I can feel any worse about not getting you the archives. As you know, you are the only one of our
|
||
621 group of four who can not directly read the MSDOS format disks, but even so you have always paid your share without
|
||
622 complaint, only to see the disks go away and no TRSDOS disks return. I know this is not fair to you and I DO feel badly
|
||
623 about it. I know after many shifted deadlines you may take my words with a grain of salt, but I PROMISE BY THE END OF
|
||
624 CHRISTMAS BREAK YOU WILL HAVE EVERY BW FILE ON YOUR OWN FORMAT DISKS AND EVERYONE ON THE GROUP WILL BE EQUALLY CAUGHT
|
||
625 UP. I am really going to work on this Leonard, I'll try not to let you down again with my sans-archive act.
|
||
626 Former PorSFiS gang: I too miss the days of the science fiction meeting/PC&S get-together. But times change and users
|
||
627 go away. Many of the people on the above list are no longer active on Backwater. PC&S is now a linoleum Deli, and some
|
||
628 of the 'camaraderie' we all shared has faded. The next meeting is the 28th. I will try to go, but contrary to what Jane
|
||
629 Smith said on a previous disk, I don't believe you can ever go home again. %*#$%#% L'homme sans Parity %*$%*_%%$%
|
||
|
||
TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629
|