635 lines
37 KiB
Plaintext
635 lines
37 KiB
Plaintext
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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask....
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2 ************************** INSTALLED: 5 MAY 78 ***********************
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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 Sorting on the part of mendicants must be interdicted.
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21 *******************************************************
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22
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23 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (before I leave)
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24
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25 Heartbeats tolled the passing of time. In the drizzle of the misty
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26 spring rain stands a small crowd of people lost from this world we know
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27 only as Inisfal. A distance from Inisfal Proper is where I now kneel.
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28 This is my story, and it is past due to finish that which I have started.
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29 To some I am known only as the Guardian; that is not important, I have
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30 lapsed in that duty for some two years now. Yet I am the Guardian.
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31
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32 I am kneeling in a secluded glen. The trees that surround this
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33 opening are thin and scattered widely, though it is their great number that
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34 separates us from the world. The dampness of the forest floor seeps
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35 through my leggings, I have been here so long and I am sore. The glen is
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36 quiet and I remain motionless.
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37
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38 There stands before me a young man, his back is turned on me. Hands
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39 have been turned to fists, rage swells within him over a matter he does not
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40 understand. His eyes are not open, within his consciousness is only aware
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41 that I am behind him, a symbol of failure in that I hold his brother --
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42 shot with my arrow. To him I am dead, yet still a burden on his mind.
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43
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44 "I hate you for what you have done, and nothing will change that,"
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45 come the words to me as they drift over his shoulder.
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46
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47 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian (125:08)
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48
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49 And now I leave this wonderful town for the week. Upon my return I dearly
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50 hope to have more to the conclusion of my story. Until my trek is over,
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51 fare thee well stout travelers.
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52 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (125:xx)
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53
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54 And in the back corner of the Inn sits a bemused student of the Arcane,
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55 watching and listening and occasionally chuckling into her alemug...
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56 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/Luingil\/\/\/\/\/\/(lurkmodeAgain)\/\/
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57
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58 (%#()_($@!)$(!)$*_)*_)$^*)^*)_*@+%*_!@*)%_@#^*@_^*@)(@#_)%*!__)~*_$*_)$*_)%*@_)
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59 Mikey: A question. What ever became of the computer order? Answer where
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60 apropos.
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61 Guardian: Good to see you again. Believe me, I would give my eye-tooth to fare
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62 a taxi on my nose this week.
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63 Luingil: Another visitor from the South? What is the occasion? Welcome none-the-
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64 less. And here's an ale on my tab...
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65 %*#$%_@#)%_)%*_)*%@_&^_!%_#!)%&)_* L'homme sans Parity *%_*%@#_)%*!)%*!)!)%*!%!
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66 ____05/05/87__________________JD 2446921.6159_________19:46:58_PDT_________
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67 :::::=====:::::=====
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68 Innkeeper: If my aid is not welcome, I will not feel hurt. I would just like
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69 to know. I can understand your hesitation, but not knowing makes it
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70 even worse. One need only say that they do not want me, perhaps they might
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71 give a little reason why. I want to try to improve, but it is difficult when
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72 I am not able to help the story and show my improvments. As you can see, for
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73 the most part I have eliminated the annoying characters that jhkept getting
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74 into the works. (I hope.) Occasional typos nonwithstanding, the line noise
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75 is gone. Perhaps, if I may, I could try to write something, but I am unsure.
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76 I want to explore, to know that someone actually thinks about what I write.
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77 Even that little gesture that tells me "No." in a simple message would be
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78 enough. Or, even better, that little gesture that says "Yes." though, from
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79 past experience, I doubt that there are any who are willing to let me try
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80 again. I''m just asking, but if there are no people here who feel I can
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81 do better given the chance, then that is perfectly fine with me, and I am
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82 sorry for taking up the space on the board for the good writers.
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83 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====
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84 Hay, does anyone have the Game Grid
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85 number, because I lost it, and really
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86 need it! Please leave a message here!
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87
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88 Thanks!
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89
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90 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
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91 mike, nothing explains the EXIT command. what does that do, knock me into
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92 send/recieve mode? i noticed everything went dead when i typed it in
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93 (thinking it was like OFF), & i noticed that when i hung up (down?) the phone,
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94 & called back, it was busy... what's that CoMmanD doing there?
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95 max confusion with no explaination.
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96 once again i ask, where do you get those phrases you put at the top? it would
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97 be nice to have the complete works, to digest & puzzle over.
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98
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also, your diskwriter is not giving me carriage returns when i am in enter
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99
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mode.
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100
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friar: flattxry? what arx you talking about? all i wantxd was thx phrasxs.
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101
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]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
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102 oops. forgot to sign this.
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103 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
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104 sign in front of a restaurant:
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105 anyone seen smoking in this room will be assumed to be on fire, and
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106 appropriate action will be taken.
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107 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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108 complete the following phrase:
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109 knock, knock
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110 who's there?
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111 _________________
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112 _________________ who?
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113 ____________________________________
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114 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
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115 IS THIS A TRICK QUESTION?
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116 YESSSSS
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117 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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118 J.M.- Flattery ? I didn't say anything about flattery,
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119 at least to the best of my recollection.
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120
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121 I had wandxrxd outsidx for a whilx, and camx to thx pond.
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122 I nqtpcxd a mashxd patch qf grass, and a strpp qf clqthpng
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123 that was of the same type worn by the old hag and then
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124 by the dancer. Very curious.
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125 [][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][]
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126
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127
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128
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129
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130 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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131 Zephyr: Maybe you should write your own story first, as an exersize
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132 for writing style. This could be an example to those that you
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133 want to write with. Maybe if they see that you're capable of a
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134 lucid story on your own, they'll acknowledge you.
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135 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>..!psu-cs!nelsons
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136 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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137 Dreams and visions assaulted me, but I no longer felt the small pain in my
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138 back. Instead, scenes flowed into view, then drained away leaving a dark
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139 grey universe around me.
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140 I saw a place of chaos, in which the Innkeeper pounded upon a door. Before I
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141 could call out, he and the door vanished, leaving the chaos only.
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142 I saw the common room of the Inn, with dozens of merry Inngoers ingaged in talk
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143 and storytelling. The view was from a position in the room approximating that
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144 of the mysterious door. This scene faded out just as the other had.
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145 I saw a jigsaw, a large puzzle which lay complete except for a solitary piece,
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146 which was located nearby. Somehow, the piece did not seem to fit into the
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147 space it was intended for. As I watched, the piece slowly changed shape,
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148 approaching the form required to fit into the jigsaw. Its progress was slow,
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149 but nonetheless constant. The puzzle faded from view as had the others.
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150 From far off I heard someone calling to me, as if whispering my name softly.
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151 The visions caught me and I could make no response. I strove to locate the
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152 voice, but to no avail.
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153 The chaos withdrew, and left me again in the grey universe. Then a stinging
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154 slap brought me from the roaming of strange planes.
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155 Moments later I rediscovered my eyelids, and opened them to gaze upon those
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156 people around me.
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157 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++ May 6, 1987 at 6:15pm +++++++
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158 Bard was startled as the 'window' collapsed. Turning towards the
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159 others, he saw the reason. Milchar was slumped on the floor, his cards
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160 spilling from his hand.
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161 Cragmore was already kneeling beside him. It was just as well.
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162 Bard was all too well aware of his lack of knowledge when it came to the
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163 care of mages. He turned to the device that was still attached to the
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164 door.
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165 In a matter of moments, he had more than Milchar to worry about.
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166 The readings made no sense whatsoever. The persona lock had confirmed that
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167 it was indeed the Innkeeper, but he'd been too busy to do more than set
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168 all sensors on record.
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169 The readings for the area up to the door were about as he expected
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170 some odd readings, but nothing extraordinary. And as usual, the door itself
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171 didn't exist as far as the sensors were concerned. At least that was the
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172 case before they'd started.
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173 The door still didn't *really* register, but it's effects on the
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174 energies directed at it did! Unfortunately, that wasn't much help without
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175 much better gear than he had any hopes of getting to.
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176 The "other side" was the real surprise. Except for the readings
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177 that registered the Innkeeper's "aura" (soul?, ka?, no one had ever really
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178 figured out what a persona detector detected, just that it was unique to
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179 a given individual), the readings were best described as sheer chaos.
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180 No readings, impossible readings, contradictory readings.
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181 All at the same time. As if there wasn't really anything there? Or perhaps
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182 as if something was *trying* to be there...
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183 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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184 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~geebardyoustolemymarker~~~~~~~~~~5~6~87~~23~50~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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185
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186 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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187 The man in the dark suit with the red flower in the lapel stood up. He
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188 was even more elegant standing; he was wiry and graceful and looked at
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189 Hammond with merry brown eyes. "I am Feril," he said. "You come with
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190 me now." He smiled widely and bowed at the waist.
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191 Hammond was charmed by his mannerly guest. "Greetings, Feril. I am de-
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192 lighted to make your acquaintance." Hamm thrust out his hand and the
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193 stranger took it, still smiling. "But, alas, my financial committee
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194 awaits in the board room. Let's reschedule at a more convenient..."
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195 The handshake strengthened into a hard grip and the dark eyes turned
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196 melancholy. "You come with me now." In his other hand was a knife
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197 whose sharp sinuously curved blade was covered with ornate carving. Hamm
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198 could see some kind of gems set into the handle. "Turkish?" He was so
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199 intrigued by its medieval appearance that he reached for it and Feril
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200 neatly slashed the buttons from his cuff. "Greek, maybe," he murmured
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201 putting his hand in his pocket. How the devil had he gotten in? Prob-
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202 ably charmed security. Hamm made a mental note to tighten up on Inter-
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203 marine National Security (whose logo, "I.N. Security" was almost as
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204 good as his own, "HA!"). Feril released him from the captive handshake
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205 but kept his curious weapon pointed just under the ribs. He had filled
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206 Hamm's backpack and now thrust it at him. "You come with me now." He
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207 was all business. As they left by the back, Feril thrust a small alarm
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208 clock, several ballpoint pens, and a mechanical pencil into the pack.
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209 Halfway down the stairs he paused and broke into a smile again. "I am
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210 Feril!" he asserted happily.
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211 Hamm was to learn that this was the extent of his English, but his son
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212 the driver of the ancient International step-van waiting below knew
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213 considerably more. "'Allo,'Allo, you are Hammond Armour the car man.
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214 Don't forget your bike." He chattered at Feril in a language unrecogni-
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215 zable to Hamm and Feril hoisted the old black bike easily into the van.
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216 "I am Lapo, Feril's son." He smiled and trained an enormous pistol on
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217 Hammond. "Please to relax. But don't go away. We will explain."
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218 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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219
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220 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
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221
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222 friar:if it wasn't you, then it must be an imposter. i wonder who said
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223
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224
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"flattery will get you NOWHERE!" at me? they put it right under your message with
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225 no borders...
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226
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down with imposters! blah! blah!
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227
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]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
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228 2. Corresponding to whom? - 'Boredom' amongst the young is a relatively
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229 new concept, of course, and nothing whatsoever to do with Punk, which in a sencewas a
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230 !@@#$@$#^%&(&&&*(*%^!!!
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231
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232
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233
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234 so with praise with phrase!!!!!!!!!
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235 HOW CLEVER!
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236 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~7~87~~22~40~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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237 __________________05/08/87 ____________JD ???????? (not at my machine)
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238 ____05/09/87__________________JD 2446925.6593_________20:49:23_PDT_________
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239 :::::=====:::::=====
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240 Innkeeper Mikey: Someone suggested I try my hand at writing something of my
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241 own to show my stuff, and that then perhaps I could get into the multi-
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242 author style of writing again, if my work was worthy enough. Is this a
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243 possibility? Should I?
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244 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr::=====:::::======::::=====:::::=====
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245 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
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246 At the moment I'm hoping for flattery to get me as far as I can get. <sigh>
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247 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -JUGGLER- -+- -+- -+- -+-
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248
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249 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (notes)
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250 Unnamed One: Don't worry, once I've finished my tale, the Guardian shall
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251 disappear for good -- ever only to be seen on *NIX machines.
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252 M. Parity: I defy you! I take my glove from your hand and throw it in
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253 your face! What is this, profanity? Listen here lad, just
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254 because you've done quite a bit of growing in the last year
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255 or two does not allow for the use of such stark terminology.
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256 Besides, why raise the ire of a rare visitor?
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257 Luingil: (did I get it right this year?) How go the classes in Moo
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258 Town? I trust the climate, courses and companions are
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259 more than adequate for such an important time in your life.
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260 Is it so... Dr. What?
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261 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian (130:01)
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262
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263 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *)
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264 Guardian: I think that the profanity was written by a very unmerry
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265 prankster. I hope that you keep writing. When I called on Friday the
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266 system said "All Is Allowed" or something like that, which I think
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267 means that somebody figured out some of the secret commands and
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268 started messing with the first few entries. But, in keeping with the
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269 childishness of the "dirty words", the person's attention span was
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270 short because they soon stopped.
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271
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272 Green Eyes (05/10/87)
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273
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274 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *)
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275 ____05/10/87__________________JD 2446926.3229_________12:44:57_PDT_________
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276 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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277 Zephyr - Stop fishing.
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278
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279 It had apparently been some time since I came out of the Inn, for a
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280 new dawn was breaking. I turned my face to the new sun and saw a
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281 playful cat in the clouds. The thought struck me that this was
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282 somehow connected to the current problem I was researching. I
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283 didn't know how, but it was related.
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284
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285 [][][][][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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286 *@#%*!_*!_*_!)*_!*$_)$*@!!@+%!%*&!_%*!_)*~+(@$(!%*#%&!)*!@+#@%&*#@)*@%@#%*@%_
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287 Guardian: Eh? What's this about growth and profanity? Methinks I have been
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288 insulted. As Robin Leach would say... "I don't know why."
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289 *%_)#*_*_)$%*_)%*%**%_)&_)@&_^ L'homme sans Parity *%_#%**%_)*%!%*!_)*%_!%**%
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290 THE DIGITAL ARENA IS 655xxxx AND IT IS NOT AN AE BOARD.
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291 <o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o> Samantha <o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o>
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292 The Inn's door opened slightly. A draft of hot air slipped in
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293 seeking out the cool corners and sheltered cracks. A fluttering of
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294 brightly coloured cloth followed the hot draft quickly closing the
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295 aged door. Were there anyone there to see they would have thought
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296 that she seemed out of place.
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297 The flashing colours of her flowing robes seemed odd for one
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298 who hid in shadows and searched out a place where others could not
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299 readily see her. But there were few to see her, and those that were
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300 present paid no attention to her as she quietly moved to a small
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301 booth with a table.
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302 She laid a bag whose material matched that of her clothing on
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303 the table and began to search inside. After a short moment her hand
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304 withdrew holding a small packet of cards. No expression betrayed her
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305 as she began to shuffle the cards...in...out...in...out...in...out...
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306 She looked over her left shoulder at the door in the rear where
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307 the others were at. It was the reason they did not see her enter.
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308 There was much concern and fear eminating from all of them. All of
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309 it directed at the glowing door and something beyond. One mentioned
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310 something about an Innkeeper.
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311 It was the immense energy outpourings from the people and from
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312 this Inn itself that brought her here. Something was happening and
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313 she needed to know what. Looking one more time at the strangely
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314 glowing door, she turned back to her cards which she had laid out as
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315 she watched the door and those around it.
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316 The cards had been laid in a particular pattern familar to
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317 those who knew of such things. She looked at the first card...
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318 great upheaval...great change showed on the face of that card. The
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319 next card showed loss, and the next destruction. Each card in its
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320 turn showed grave danger, and impending doom.
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321 She had been avoiding it until now, but she now looked at the
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322 final and telling card...
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323 A quick intake of breath, her hand came up to her throat in a
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324 defensive gester, and the colour drained from her face. Even the
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325 bright colours in hers clothes seemed to fade slightly.
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326 That card should not be there. She had taken it out of the deck
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327 long ago for fear that it might some day be drawn and she would have
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328 to face it. Yet there it was in the primary position. The reading
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329 she had always feared.
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330 For a moment she only looked at the card eyes wide in gathering
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331 fear. Then she was up, running for the door, leaving her few
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332 belongings on the table behind. She threw the door open and raced
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333 outside, not bothing to take the time to close it. Running on down
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334 the path and across a small foot bridge.
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335 Racing as quickly as she could down the rutted packed dirt
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336 road. Trying to outrun it even as she knew that she could not, for
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337 the reading had shown what she had always feared. The end was at
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338 hand. Not just the end of an individual, not the end of many, or
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339 even the world, but the end of life itself, of the universe. The end
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340 of everything. And she could not outrun it, no one could, but she
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341 ran on anyway, dwindling into a small flashing red spot in the
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342 distance.
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343 <o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o> Samantha <o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o>
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344 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *)
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345 T'Chree and the Dancer were quick to settle the details of their
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346 business arrangement. Both were anxious to leave the Inn, though for
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347 very different reasons. T'Chree had been on her search for several
|
||
348 months and wanted to return to her home and family. The Dancer was
|
||
349 still uneasy about the suspicious interest being shown by some of the
|
||
350 Inn patrons into her connections with the old Crone, and the old
|
||
351 woman's disappearance--to say nothing about the man she had been
|
||
352 running from when she arrived at the Inn the first time. She had not
|
||
353 seen him, but that was no guarantee that he had given up his pursuit.
|
||
354 T'Chree gathered together her belongings. She gently awoke her
|
||
355 young servant, Yuan, who had been sleeping, nestled in her cloak. He
|
||
356 got up and stood leaning sleepily against the bench, eyes barely open.
|
||
357 "Here, let me carry him," offered the Dancer. She picked him up,
|
||
358 surprised by how little he weighed. He snuggled close, wrapped his
|
||
359 arms around her, and promptly went back to sleep. Trusting little
|
||
360 soul, aren't you? the Dancer thought with a smile, and brushed the top
|
||
361 of his feathered head with her cheek. She nodded at T'Chree to show
|
||
362 she was ready to leave. The Princess led the way out of the Inn--
|
||
363 their departure unnoticed by the rowdy Inn patrons who were watching
|
||
364 some goings-on at the back of the room.
|
||
365 A short distance from the Inn, concealed by mooncast shadows,
|
||
366 T'Chree stopped. "This spot is as good as any." she told the Dancer.
|
||
367 The Dancer looked around for some vehicle or other means of
|
||
368 transportation but could see nothing. When she turned back again to
|
||
369 T'Chree, she saw the woman removing a small packet from the bodice of
|
||
370 her tunic. Opening the packet, she removed a small, dark feather
|
||
371 which glistened even in the darkness.
|
||
372 Holding the feather up so that the Dancer could see it clearly,
|
||
373 T'Chree said, "This is another element of the old life of my people
|
||
374 which is becoming forgotten--the Wise Ones. The Wise Ones were our
|
||
375 rulers before the change. They had many great and subtle powers which
|
||
376 they used to better the lives of our people. Their orders were obeyed
|
||
377 without question for the people knew that the Wise Ones would never
|
||
378 harm them."
|
||
379 "You said they were being forgotten." the Dancer responded. "Do
|
||
380 you mean that they died when the change occurred?"
|
||
381 "No," answered T'Chree. "They foresaw the growth that my people
|
||
382 would undergo, the increased intelligence and independence which would
|
||
383 develop. They felt that their absolute control would only hold us
|
||
384 back--keep us from achieving the ability to make our own decisions,
|
||
385 and to learn by the mistakes we would make. They waited until the
|
||
386 evolution process had progressed to a point where we had a degree of
|
||
387 autonomy and the ability to survive as a society, then they just left-
|
||
388 -disappeared into the unknown. Someday we hope that they will
|
||
389 return." She stared wistfully at the feather she was twisting slowly
|
||
390 between her fingers.
|
||
391 "That however is a quest for the future. Right now, we must
|
||
392 complete the one we are on, with the assistance of this gift from the
|
||
393 Wise Ones. This feather allows travel between planets, and
|
||
394 dimensions, and probably to and from other things which we haven't
|
||
395 even discovered yet. The Wise Ones left several to be "found" when we
|
||
396 had progressed sufficiently. The feathers are only a few of the
|
||
397 "gifts" left us by the Wise Ones, but you will learn of the others in
|
||
398 due time.
|
||
399 Now, take my hand, and we will make the brief journey to Aviana.
|
||
400 Oh, by the way, do you have a name?" T'Chree looked questioningly at
|
||
401 the woman standing beside her. "It would be a bit awkward to
|
||
402 introduce you to the King as merely 'Dancer'."
|
||
403 "While I am visiting your world," replied the Dancer, "you may
|
||
404 call me Ahmryaba."
|
||
405
|
||
406 Green Eyes (05/11/87)
|
||
407 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *)
|
||
408 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~11~87~~12~33~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
409 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
410 I was walking back to the Inn, puzzling over the image of a cat
|
||
411 that had appeared in the sky, knowing that it was somehow related
|
||
412 to the dancer, the old hag, and now that overbearing pompous
|
||
413 thing that called herself T'Chree.
|
||
414 "Silly name", I thought to myself, "It sounds like a screech a
|
||
415 bird would make."
|
||
416 I was wandering across the bridge in my revery, when I was nearly
|
||
417 knocked into the water by a woman in a very bright costume.
|
||
418 "Umph", was my only response, but she kept right on running, as
|
||
419 though the devil himself were after her.
|
||
420 As I sat feeling a little put out about the rudeness of some people,
|
||
421 I saw that dancer and that creature step out of the doorway and
|
||
422 head for the woods. I made my way to follow them, quietly
|
||
423 going around the back, and into the woods.
|
||
424 [][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
425 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+-
|
||
426 I suggest no one spend nights at the Inn these nights..
|
||
427 -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -+- -J- -+-
|
||
428 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
429 Green Eyes- Could you please contact me on
|
||
430 Blue Parrot. My number is 39. I will be leaving
|
||
431 you a message as soon as I can get past the busy
|
||
432 signal.
|
||
433 [][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
434 WHO CARES?
|
||
435 :::::=====:::::=====
|
||
436 Friar: If you mean fishing for compliments, then I'm not fishing for them.
|
||
437 I am fishing for a chance. It was a chance I was never given, as most of
|
||
438 my work was originally ignored, and I
|
||
439 have not been able to show my work for some time. Now, I ask for a chance,
|
||
440 and only a chance.
|
||
441 Someone suggested I write my own work first. Very well.
|
||
442 :::::=====:::::=====
|
||
443 After the encounter with Zeb (a different Zeb than Piper's, to be
|
||
444 sure), Focusing and Magnifying had been Zephuryr's life, and, more importantly,
|
||
445 his only current livlihood. That was why he had offered to help those who
|
||
446 stood at the mtysterious doorway. The scent of adventure had filled his
|
||
447 still-sensitive nostrils, nbut alas, the assembled group had been too busy
|
||
448 speaking amongst themselves to take notice of his offer of service.
|
||
449 He pulled his hat down over his head and sat back at his table. W
|
||
450 Obviously, his first attempt at simple human-human conversations had not
|
||
451 worked as planned. Having only been human for a very short while, Zephyr
|
||
452 only expected as much. In time, perhaps, but not now.
|
||
453 Now he had more important things to worry about. It looked as though
|
||
454 tthose at the Inn were beginning to filter out. Friar had vanished, and
|
||
455 a lovely young woman wearing very bright clothing had come and gone in an
|
||
456 instant. Zephyr hadbeen painfully aware of her presence, with the power
|
||
457 of Focusing working subconciously, he did not like the magnified colors very much.
|
||
458 Then there were those at the door, but they had ignored his presence.
|
||
459 As he looked at them, they seemed to stanfd like immobile statues. He felt
|
||
460 like a twig on a log about to be swept away by the breeze standing so near
|
||
461 them. Somehow, he knew that they were the nexus of this place that he had
|
||
462 always sensed byut had never been able to research.
|
||
463 Magnifying the meal he had purchased into four, he pcarefully packed them
|
||
464 away in his leatx`her pouch and had two glasses of ale, after magnifying one.
|
||
465 Fortunately, he could avoid Focusing the affects of the alcohol on his
|
||
466 system. He needed no repeats of the night he had lost control of his
|
||
467 abilities due to foreign substances.
|
||
468 This world definitely didn't need eighteen moons.
|
||
469 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::=====
|
||
470 ____05/11/87__________________JD 2446927.6140_________19:44:14_PDT_________
|
||
471 <<:**********************just passin' through************:>>
|
||
472 All right, Zephyr, keep going. The eighteen moon was a good twist.
|
||
473 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
|
||
474 does anyone out there have a public-domain c compiler or interpreter for
|
||
475 cp/m-80 based systems (kaypro II)? the one i have is quite bogified.
|
||
476 jim michaels 231-xxxx
|
||
477 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
|
||
478 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
|
||
479 If you don't mind a 10 minute wait for "hello world" to compile, I've
|
||
480 got a copy of Small-C. However, I wouldn't recommend it...
|
||
481 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>...!psu-cs!nelsons
|
||
482 BEASTIE BOYS ROCK!
|
||
483 so does bon jovi, big deal?
|
||
484 HEY, FOLKS. A NEW FAD. EVERYONE SIGN WITH THEIR USENET ADDRESS!
|
||
485 ---
|
||
486 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
487 I came upon them in a clearing, talking quietly about an object T'Chree
|
||
488 was holding. It looked like a bird feather.
|
||
489 "I thought she looked and talked a little flighty", I chuckled to myself
|
||
490 at the pun. "Flighty ? They are going to try to get out of here! And
|
||
491 after murduring, or who knows what, the old hag."
|
||
492 "You there, hold !", I shouted. "You aren't going anywhere."
|
||
493 I ran into the clearing, and jumped, trying to catch both of them. I
|
||
494 tripped on a branch, and fell. When I looked up, they were gone. I don't
|
||
495 know how, just gone.
|
||
496 "Damn."
|
||
497 I picked myself up and headed back for the Inn. Maybe the other crew was
|
||
498 having better luck. Or maybe my friend the Philosopher had thought of a
|
||
499 new tack I should take.
|
||
500 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
501 WHO CARES?
|
||
502 CARES WXO?
|
||
503 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~12~87~~14~05~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
504 -+- -+-
|
||
505 Cares me.
|
||
506 -+- -+-
|
||
507 ____05/12/87__________________JD 2446928.6032_________19:28:42_PDT_________
|
||
508 Cares nobody.
|
||
509
|
||
510 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
|
||
511 no, i don't mind a 10-minute compile time. as long as it works!
|
||
512 as long as it's not version 1 by ron cain, i'll be fine. i already have that.
|
||
513 so tell me !psu-cs!nelsons... do you have a random number generator for C?
|
||
514 jim michaels 231-xxxx
|
||
515 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
|
||
516 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
|
||
517 Guardian: Sorry to steal your border. I'll start using little v's
|
||
518 as above, OK? -----Hammwriter
|
||
519 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
|
||
520 TO:BAX
|
||
521 there is pizza here for you tonite till 9 am (05/14/87/01:25am)
|
||
522 the keep
|
||
523 ..............................................................
|
||
524 BAX this is a up date
|
||
525 it is geting worse
|
||
526 ...................................n.keep....................
|
||
527 I was told i had to do something! SOMETHING (THERE LEONARD HOW'S THAT?
|
||
528 they won't let me mess with the fancy stuff, who knows what havoc i wo[Als
|
||
529 wreak, if i got turned loose (just look at the end of the last line and
|
||
530 you get the general idea) whats fun to do on this planet anyway?
|
||
531
|
||
532 Yoshi
|
||
533 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
|
||
534 Veeerry interesting. hmmmmmm....
|
||
535 ____05/14/87__________Leonard_JD 2446930.6641_________20:56:24_PDT_____
|
||
536
|
||
537 I happen to look out of the front window and saw a man walking towards
|
||
538 the Inn carrying a sign that read "Repent! The end is near!" First the
|
||
539 gypsy lady and now a religous nut. What next???
|
||
540 [@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@][@]
|
||
541 Well, I don't like the looks of that door, it is glowing again, and
|
||
542 now there are sparks coming from it. Do you suppose those people know
|
||
543 something we don't? I'm starting to get a bit worried here. Is the
|
||
544 end really at hand? What's going on around here.
|
||
545 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
546
|
||
547 UMOR HAS IT THAT BWMS WILL BE TAKEN OFF THE AIR THIS SATURDAY.
|
||
548 IS THAT TRUE???? PLEASE MIKEY SAY IT ISN'T TRUE!
|
||
549 BWMS HAS BEEN LIKE A FRIEND TO ME, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
|
||
550 DON'T PULL THE PLUG. A FRIEND.
|
||
551 ------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
552 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
|
||
553 My, my, my. Rumors of the death of BW? An "end is near" sign in our
|
||
554 front yard? Dragons flying around the room (tell me, Gildor, does this
|
||
555 'lizard' of yours have a tatoo of '666' on its head?). And a strange
|
||
556 door that continues to confound the greatest members of our midst. Just
|
||
557 what is really happening???? (tune in next week, same Bat time, same
|
||
558 Bat channel!)
|
||
559 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>...!psu-cs!nelsons
|
||
560 WHO CARES?
|
||
561 That was a cold and heartless thing, Who Cares indeed!!!!!! I care!
|
||
562 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
563 As Bard stood by the glowing door, he realized that he could 'hear'
|
||
564 a tune in the back of his mind. With a start he realized that it was the
|
||
565 first song he'd ever sung in the Inn....
|
||
566 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
567 Time Winds Tavern (words: Teri Lee, music : "Those were the Days")
|
||
568
|
||
569 Once upon the time winds was a tavern
|
||
570 Where strange folk could have a drink or two,
|
||
571 Reminding us of their immortal wonder,
|
||
572 I saw a unicorn there, didn't you?
|
||
573 CHORUS: Those days are gone, my friend;
|
||
574 The need is at an end
|
||
575 Of all those strange and mystic beasts of yore.
|
||
576 The dragon's gone tonight; he went without a fight
|
||
577 And left us here with science evermore.
|
||
578 Unicorns sat perched upon the bar stools,
|
||
579 Dragons parked their tankards on the floor,
|
||
580 Orcs and griffins fought for lovely maidens,
|
||
581 While imps and demons traded arcane lore.
|
||
582 Chorus
|
||
583 Witches once worked spells upon the tavern
|
||
584 To guard it from the sight of human eyes,
|
||
585 For mortals must not seek to know their betters;
|
||
586 What man can know the future and not cry?
|
||
587 Chorus
|
||
588 In the dark alone I sit and wonder,
|
||
589 Will they come and drink with us again?
|
||
590 The tavern waits in sawdust covered splendor
|
||
591 To be filled with laughing creatures, who knows when?
|
||
592 Chorus
|
||
593 ~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
594 ... somehow he had the feeling that his subconcious was trying to
|
||
595 tell him something.
|
||
596 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
597 to:!psu-cs!nelsons
|
||
598 unless you have a phone number, i can't get that small-c compiler thru
|
||
599 with just your name. so... call me anytime from 11am-10:30pm & i will
|
||
600 get my modem going. (kermit or xmodem?)
|
||
601 jim michaels 231-xxxx (answering machine sometimes)
|
||
602 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
|
||
603 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
604 I went through the door into the Inn. Things seemed awry. The bard
|
||
605 was looking pensive, and there seemed to be a mood of lethargy about
|
||
606 the place. I sat down at my usual table and waited. What was going
|
||
607 to happen?
|
||
608 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Friar ]
|
||
609 there is nothing to rhyme with purple
|
||
610 except for maybe cow and whirpool
|
||
611 turn your heads to finer things
|
||
612 rounded breasts and diamond rings
|
||
613
|
||
614 to the moon i saw you dance
|
||
615 of bright and cheery circumstance
|
||
616 all the angels sent to you
|
||
617 found out what to do
|
||
618 into heaven they were sent
|
||
619 seeing fit to raise the rent
|
||
620
|
||
621 -----------------------------------guama------------------------------
|
||
622 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
||
623 As I stirred, strange forces assaulted my senses. The door had changed...
|
||
624 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++ At the bottom, May 16, 1987 ++++++++
|
||
|
||
TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 624
|