LIST FILE ON MARGIN IS 128 STATUS: ALL ALLOWED NUMBER OF LINES: 605 1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask.... 2 ******************* REMOVED: 21 JAN 84 ********************* 3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator 4 ************************************************************ 5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION 6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM. 7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privatly owned 8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public. 9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is 10 privatly owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which 11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be 12 periodically purged of older messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved) 13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the 14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the 15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace 16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up. 17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system. 18 ************************************************************ 19 20 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 21 As always, the backroom remains cloaked in darkness, for it seems that 22 the light is not on and the switch is nowhere to be found. Perhaps when 23 the Innkeeper returns he will show me where it is. Or... Maybe PAM ? 24 * Tarn * 25 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 26 Emer? Hello? Anybody there? 27 28 Ouch! Damn table! Crash! Ouch! 29 I should have waited I guess.... Darn it! I think I 30 broke a toenail. Gad it hurts! 31 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 32 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 The piper felt the hairs lift on the back of his neck as the tension built. 34 "(EXPLETIVE DELETED), I should have let it pass, but no......." 35 "let's see if we can redirect some of this emotion before it gets out of 36 hand. something light and danceable, i think..." 37 38 Keeping his eye on a rough-looking character in the corner --dusty, did he say 39 his name was? -- the piper inflated his pipes and winded them with a short 40 blow to the bag. A brief **honk** and the drones caught. The bass drone, the 41 longest one that sat on his right shoulder 42 wavered a little, he reached up with his left hand and twisted the top joint 43 minutely. There! The purr of the bass drone now solidly underlay the twin 44 hum of the two tenors. A quick run of the fingers over the chanter to check that 45 the relationship is right. The two 3/4 note steps on the bagpipe scale sound 46 sweet and natural to the pipers ears although he is used to seeing non-pipers 47 wince as his fingers skip to the next note. 48 The piper swung into a set of lively dance airs and felt the tension of the 49 group diminish as feet tapped. 50 He ended his set with a lively jig that even got that drunken fellow who had 51 uttered the forbidden words dancing. 52 To the piper's relief, at one point he stumbled and the dagger that he had 53 loosed in his sheath slid behind the bar 54 Moving quietly, the innkeeper placed the weapon out of the room for safekeeping. 55 Stepping back from his set, the piper stepped close by the apprentice, and said 56 quietly: 57 "Please accept my apologys. I had though that subject was far enough in the 58 past to allow oblique references to it. 59 Unfortunately, it seems not. However, congratulations on your quick thinking." 60 ----------------------------------------the piper----------------------------- 61 *************************************************************** 62 I love peanut butter sandwiches. In poorer times I once lived 63 a week eating nothing else. I learned something from that. 64 Even something as wonderful as peanut butter gets old when its 65 the only thing you consume. 66 67 I've noticed lately that Backwater is taking on some of the 68 characteristics of a peanut butter binge. Same style, same 69 flavor, same personality. Good stuff, in itself, but adding 70 meat to the fare might make for a more balanced diet. 71 72 But where are the meat providers? What happened to their 73 dazzling debates, their scinillating discussions, their 74 pliable platitudes? The table is set, the diners ready, but 75 there is no meat. Drat! 76 77 Does this mean a fantasy freak, a Grand Dragon Master no less, 78 must compensate for their complacancy? Is reality to be left 79 in the hands of the crazy drivel mongers they so verbally 80 depore. Apparently so. 81 82 Let's get some discussion going. 83 ====== TOPIC #1 ====== 84 Jonathan Preppie was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He 85 was raised by nurturing parents who gave him every advantage 86 money could buy. He went to the right schools, made the right 87 friends, and became an important tax lawyer. 88 89 Though Jonathan was bright and well educated, the real success 90 of his career was based on his contacts. He knew the right 91 people in the right places and he could get things done with a 92 minimum of actual work. As a result, Jonathan developed a 93 lifestyle that was undemanding, self absorbing, and highly 94 respectable. He was a model of success. 95 96 Randal Dreggs, on the other hand, was born into a poor family, 97 had a deformed foot that made him walk funny, and was 98 mildly retarded. His deformed foot and dumb sounding 99 comments caused people to laugh at him, which made him with- 100 drawn and self consious. 101 102 Randal was determined to make what he could of himself. 103 Through vocational training he landed a job sorting electrical 104 components. He created a circle of friends who liked him as he 105 was. And he took good care of his dog, who was his best friend. 106 107 His life was a simple one but it met his needs. He was proud 108 to hold a job when others, less handicapped than he, were l 109 living in institutions for the retarded. He didn't contribute 110 much to society, by Randall's standards, but he was honest, 111 never hurt anyone, and he always did his best. 112 113 I ask you - What gives one life more value than another? In 114 your value system is Jonathan better (or more successful) than 115 Randal? Why? 116 117 What determines the value of a human life? Is it how much the 118 person produced, their status, their social position? Or do 119 you measure how far they've gone against where they started 120 from? 121 ====== TOPIC #2 ====== 122 About a mile from Lake Oswego, overlooking the Willamette, is 123 an institution for the incarceration and treatment of severely 124 emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children. 125 126 It is a modern building, quite attractive, that is 127 specifically designed to be indestructable. It has inch and a 128 half thick electronically controlled steel doors, shatter- 129 proof glass throughout, and the entire building is treated 130 to make it fireproof. 131 132 Furnature is heavy and tough, beds are attached to the walls, 133 and no sharp objects or blunt instruments are found on the 134 unit. It is a closed system. Children eat, sleep, and go to 135 school on the premises. 136 137 At the center of all this is the QUIET ROOM. The quiet room 138 is the modern day equivalent of the padded cell, except that 139 modern fire regulations prohibit the padding. 140 141 The quiet room is ten foot square, has an inch and a half 142 thick steel door, built in ceiling light, and a floor that 143 gradually slopes to a drain in the middle. The room is 144 painted a hideous shade of pink psychological researchers 145 have determined has a calming effect. Or so they say. 146 147 Realizing that I haven't given you much to go on I'd like 148 to pose some really tough questions. 149 150 My questions: Is it ever morally justified to throw a child 151 into a quiet room? If not, why? If so, under what 152 circumstances? 153 ================ 154 OK, folks, those are my offerings. I know they're tough 155 questions; I planned it that way. The easy questions draw 156 easy answers. We've had enough of those. 157 158 Do you find either topic interesting enough to spark 159 discussion? If not, what are you going to offer instead? 160 Gary Olson 161 ********************************************************* 162 Mr:. Olson: as to your first topic, I see no reason to try and determine which 163 of the two is "better". Though I am not a cChristian (or a member of ANY 164 organized religion), I believe Christ made an applicable comment. "Judge not, 165 lest ye be judged." I 166 #2: I'm not sure what the "right" answer to that one is. I do feel a 167 that all such decisions (any need to be made on a case by case basis. I have 168 insufficient data for coming up with a set of "guidelines". There MAY be 169 circumstances that would justify putting a cxhild in a quiet room. Also, 170 HOW LONG are we talking about? I can see little harm (to a "normal" child 171 (whatever the hell, that is!) in being placed in one for 10-15 minutes. That 172 is not to say that it is "right" to do so. 173 By the way, have you seen what the "cells" used for juvenile offenders in 174 some areas are like? About the same size as your "quiet room". Similar door, 175 with a viewslot (with bolting cover) just large enough for a meal tray. 176 Bunk is metal shelf that is part of wall. Light (ALWAYS on) is in corner near 177 cieling. One piece sink-toilet. Oh, yes, the room is NOT square. The door is 178 in one corner, the adjacent corner of that wall i"isn't there". IInstead there 179 is a short wall section (imagine someone took a knife and cut off the corner). 180 This is where the sink, etc are. This is so that you are ALWAYS visible thru 181 the door (unless you are directly under the slot). The whole is painted what 182 I think of as "hospital green" (like scrubs, if that helps). I spent a couple 183 of days in one of these when I was 17 (loooong story, don't ask!) You are 184 forbidden writing implements/materials. You can get reading materials only 185 if you can talk them into letting you have some comic books (they grab a 186 handful from a stack, I read the same 5 comics 12 times!). You are in the cell 187 except at meals, an hour or so for anti-drug or other "health" films or talks. 188 And about an hour of free time after dinner. (summer schedule, I presume they 189 had some sort of attempt at school the rest of the year). Why dio I go on about 190 this? Because they had kids as young as EIGHT in there! 191 _________________________Leonard_______________________________________________ 192 193 The Last Rhyme of True Thomas 194 (by Gwendolyn of Caer Cerdinnen; O.L., m.k.a. Susan Oldham) 195 196 The King has caleled for priest and cup, 197 The King has taken spur and blade 198 To dub True Thomas a belted knight 199 And all for the sake of the songs he made. 200 201 They have sought him high, they have sought him low 202 They have sought him over down and lea. 203 They have found him by the milk-white thorn 204 That guards the gate of Faerie. 205 206 "Now cease your song," the King he said, 207 "Oh, cease your song and get you dight 208 To vow your vows and watch your arms, 209 For I will dub you a belted knight. 210 211 "For I will give you a horse o' pride, 212 Wi' blazon and spur and page and squire; 213 And land to hold at your desire." 214 215 "I ha' vowed my vow in another place, 216 And bitter oath it was on me. 217 I ha' watched my arms the lee-long night, 218 Where five-score fighting men would flee. 219 220 "My lance is tipped o' the hammered flame, 221 My sheield is beat o' the moonlight cold; 222 And I won my spurs in the Middle world, 223 A thousand fathom beneath the mold. 224 225 "And what should I make wi' a horse o' pride, 226 And what should I make wi' a sword so brown, 227 But spill the rings of the Gentle Folk 228 And flyte my kin in the Faerie Town? 229 230 "And what should I make wi' blazon and belt, 231 Wi' keep and tail and seizin' and fee, 232 And what should I do wi' page and squire 233 That am a king in my own countrie?" 234 235 The kKing he bit his nether lip, 236 And smote his hand upon his knee: 237 "By the faith of my soul, True Thomas," he said, 238 "Ye waste no wit in courtesie!" 239 240 The king cast down a gsilver groat, 241 A silver groat o' Scots money; 242 "If I come wi' a poor man's dole," he said, 243 "True Thomas, will ye harp to me?" 244 245 "Whenas I harp to then children small, 246 They press me close on either hand, 247 And who are you," True Thomas said, 248 "That you should ride while they must stand? 249 250 "Light down, light down from your horse o' pride, 251 I trow ye talk to loud and hie, 252 And I will make you a triple word, 253 And syne, if ye dare, ye shall 'noble me." 254 255 True Thomas played upon his harp, 256 The faerie harp that couldna lee, 257 And the first least word the proud king heard, 258 It harpit the salt tear out o' his e'e. 259 260 "Oh, I see the love that I lost long syne, 261 I touch the hope that I may not see, 262 And all that I did of hidden shame, 263 Like little snakes they hiss at me. 264 265 "The sun is lost at noon -- at noon! 266 The dread of doom has grippit me. 267 True Thomas, hide me under your cloak, 268 God wot, I'm little fit to dee!" 269 270 True Thomas played upon his harp, 271 That birled and brattled to his hand, 272 And the next least word True Thomas made, 273 It garred the King take horse and brand. 274 275 "Oh, I hear the tread o' the fighting-men, 276 I see the sun on splent and spear. 277 I mark the arrow outen the fern 278 That flies so low and sings so clear! 279 280 "Advance my standards to that field, 281 And bid my good knights prick and ride; 282 The gled shall watch as fierce a fight 283 As e'er was fought on the Border-side!" 284 285 True Thomas sighed above his harp, 286 And turned the song on the midmost string; 287 And txe last least word True Thomas made, 288 He harpit his dead youth back to the king. 289 290 "Now I am prince, and I do well 291 To love my love withouten fear; 292 To walk with man in fellowship, 293 And breathe my horse behind the deer. 294 295 "My hounds they bay unto the death,' 296 The buck has couched beyond the burn, 297 My love she waits at her window 298 To wash my hands when I return." 299 300 True Thomas laid his harp away, 301 And louted low at the saddle-side; 302 He has taken stirrup and hauden rein, 303 And set the King on his horse o' pride. 304 305 "Sleep ye or wake," True Thomas said, 306 "That sit so still, that muse so long? 307 Sleep ye or wake?--Till the laLatter Sleep 308 I trow ye'll not forget my song. 309 310 "I ha' harpit a shadow out o' the sun 311 To stand before your face and cry; 312 I ha' armed the earth beneath your heel, 313 And o'er your head I ha' dusked the sky. 314 315 "I ha' harpit ye up to the Throne o' God, 316 I ha' harpit your midmost soul in three; 317 I ha' harpit ye down to the Hinges o' Hrell, 318 And ye would make a knight o' me!" 319 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 320 I apologize for going on so long, but I felt we needed a "quiet, listening" 321 song after the piper's dance. When I began the tune I forgot how long it was! 322 ~~~~~~~~~~~ 323 Piper: I can't understand why anyone would dislike the sound o' the pipes! 324 Is there any chance that we ha' met elsewhere? I am from Stromgard. I'm not 325 sure whether the inn is in Three Mountains or in Dragon's Mist? (Milord 326 innkeeper, where be this in? Portland, Washington County, or elsewhere?) 327 328 d: the apprentice told me somewhat of you. I do na' recall whether or not ye 329 were interested in the SCA? (You live, appropriately enough, in Dragon's Mist!) 330 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 331 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< *.* >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 332 ...Some of the patrons were gathered at a table in the corner laughing 333 and talking with a strange looking newcomer to the Inn. 334 ...One was heard to say, "Perhaps you could engage us with a story of 335 these adventures of yours, but I warn you this crowd is not easily 336 pleased and can turn on you at a moment's notice. 337 ...He scratched his beard, took a deep breath and said, "Yes, perhaps 338 I do know one that is at least appropriate for such a gathering. 339 I believe it's called--- 340 The Place Where East Begins 341 342 Once upon a time there was a princess named Nila. She was 343 everything a princess should be. She was beautiful and 344 intelligent, much loved by everyone in the kingdom. Still, 345 Nila was discontent for she did not seem to know that thing 346 everyone else seemed to know, that thing called Truth. So 347 she went to her father the King and said, "Father am I the 348 only person who doesn't know the truth?" Now the King was a 349 very wise man so he did not answer immediately. "My child", 350 he said, "that is a very deep question and I must ponder it 351 carefully, come back tomorrow." When Nila returned to the 352 throne room the next day, she found that her father had 353 cancelled all his kingly activities and had gathered around 354 him all the wisest men in the kingdom. "Beautiful One", the 355 King said, "You have asked the most important question it 356 is possible to ask. I have been waiting for this moment for 357 many years. Princess, when you were born a strange and 358 ragged man from the hills appeared at court and prophesied 359 that you would be one who would knew Truth. He said, and I 360 quote: "Her knowing can begin only when the question arises 361 from deep within her. This will happen in the natural course 362 of events." Then he sang a this little song playing on an 363 instrument that sounded like distant bees. 364 365 Sone travel to the East, ho! 366 And some go to the West. 367 But the fartherest truth of all, Oh! 368 Is neither East nor West. 369 370 ("You'll have to forgive my not singing dear."), the King 371 said parenthetically, "as you know I am not artistically 372 inclined, second verse." 373 374 The answers' in the question, ho! 375 The taste is in the thirst. 376 Which of these truth seekers, Oh! 377 Will reach truth first? 378 379 "I'm sorry father", Nila said, "but I don't understand it 380 at all I'm afraid. 381 "Don't be sorry and afraid at the same time, my child.", 382 the King said, "Sorry is for the past and afraid is for 383 the future, it isn't princess like to mix them up so. But, 384 in any case I don't understand the song either. I simply 385 memorized it because I believed it to contain information 386 I might need at some future time, which is now. It is one 387 of my better habits, I think." 388 389 Nila nodded patiently, being used to her father's expla- 390 nations. It was his kingly practice to take everything 391 apart and make a judgement on it, including himself. It 392 made him a very good King and a poor conversationalist. 393 394 "Now my child", the King continued, "the time has come 395 and your knowing has begun. Do you feel any different? 396 No, I though not. In any case... Now, here are the wisest 397 men in all the kingdom. They are instructed to answer any 398 question no matter which or what you may put to them. 399 With that the king departed with swirling robes, carried 400 along by that natural course of events appropriate to Kings. 401 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< to be continued... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 402 ----------------------------------------------- 403 Walking through the broad oaken door of the Inn, I wonder if Tarn 404 will be here today. Surely, he is a moody one, surly and full of woe 405 one moment, happy and friendly the next. He has spoken to me much of 406 the past, but not of his own past, or how he came to be here at the 407 Inn. Ah, well, his friendship is good, even if he is slow to his 408 changepurse when the bill arrives! 409 A loud report, as of falling furniture and a breaking stein, 410 reaches my ears, and then a muttered curse! It comes from the back 411 room, where last I supped and exchanged pleasantries with Tarn. I see 412 Pam rushing through the old tattered curtain into that room, but there 413 is no look of concern on her face; in truth she seems quite happy, and 414 a wide smile of amusement plays across her mien. It seems that I've 415 found Tarn. 416 - Emer - 417 ----------------------------------------------------- 418 419 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 420 421 THE FAIRY THORN 422 Sir Samuel Ferguson 423 424 "Get up, our Anna dear, from the weary spinning-wheel; 425 For your father's on the hill, and your mother is asleep; 426 Come up above the crags, and we'll dance the highland-reel 427 Around the fairy thorn on the steep." 428 429 At Anna Grace's door 'twas thus the maidens cried, 430 Three merry maidens fair in kirtles of the green; 431 And Anna laid the rock and the weary wheel aside, 432 The fairest of the four, I ween. 433 434 They're glancing through the glimmer of the quiet eve, 435 Away in milky wavings of neck and ankle bare; 436 The heavy-sliding stream in its sleepy song they leave, 437 And the crags in the ghostly air: 438 439 And linking hand in hand, and singing as they go, 440 The maids along the hill-side have ta'en their fearless way, 441 Till they come to where the rowan trees in lonely beauty grow 442 Beside the Fairy Hawthorn grey. 443 444 The Hawthorn stands between the ashes tall and slim, 445 Like matron with her twin grand-daughters at her knee; 446 The rowan berries cluster o'er her low head grey and dim 447 In ruddy kisses sweet to see. 448 449 The merry maidens four have ranged them in a row, 450 Between each lovely couple a stately rowan stem, 451 And away in mazes wavy, like skimming birds they go, 452 Oh, never caroll'd bird like them! 453 454 But solemn is the silence of the silvery haze 455 That drinks away their voices in echoless repose, 456 And dreamily the evening has still'd the haunted braes, 457 And dreamier the gloaming grows. 458 459 And sinking one by one, like lark-notes from the sky 460 When the falcon's shadow saileth across the open shaw, 461 Are hush'd the maiden's voices, as cowering down they lie 462 In the flutter of their sudden awe. 463 464 For, from the air above, the grassy ground beneath, 465 And from the mountain-ashes and the old Whitethorn between, 466 A Power of faint enchantment doth through their beings breathe, 467 And they sink down together on the green. 468 469 They sink together silent, and stealing side by side, 470 They fling their lovely arms o'er their drooping necks so fair, 471 Then vainly strive again their naked arms to hide, 472 For their shrinking necks again are bare. 473 474 Thus clasp'd and prostrate all, with their heads together bow'd, 475 Soft o'er their bosom's beating-the only human sound- 476 They hear the silky footsteps of the silent fairy crowd, 477 Like a river in the air, gliding round. 478 479 No scream can any raise, no prayer can any say, 480 But wild, wild, the terror of the speechless three- 481 For they feel fair Anna Grace drawn silently away, 482 By whom they dare not look to see. 483 484 They feel their tresses twine with her parting locks of gold 485 And the curls elastic falling as her head withdraws; 486 They feel her sliding arms from their tranced arms unfold, 487 But they may not look to see the cause: 488 489 For heavy on their senses the faint enchantment lies 490 Through all that night of anguish and perilous amaze; 491 And neither fear nor wonder can ope their quivering eyes, 492 Or their limbs from the cold ground raise, 493 494 Till out of night the earth has roll'd her dewy side, 495 With every haunted mountain and streamy vale below; 496 When, as the mist dissolves in the yellow morning tide, 497 The maidens' trance dissolveth so. 498 499 Then fly the ghastly three as swiftly as they may, 500 And tell their tale of sorrow to anxious friends in vain- 501 They pined away and died within the year and day, 502 And ne'er was Anna Grace seen again. 503 504 (written sometime in the 15th century) 505 506 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM.[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 507 508 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 509 FIRST A GENERAL COMMENT (NO PUN INTENDED): I LOVE THE SONGS AND POEMS, 510 I really DO, BUT THIS SYSTEM IS SO LIMITED IN MEMORY, COULD WE TRY TO 511 KEEP THEM SHORT OR BREAK THEM UP? GIVE EVERYONE SOME ROOM. OK, NUFF SAID, 512 I'M A JERK. 513 GENERAL MACAIBO.................................................... 514 .... 515 GARY ET AL: 516 OK, I'll bite. For your first thrust, I judge others (when I must) 517 not by how much they have accomplished, but by what they have done 518 with with what talents they have. Every human is gifted; some gifts 519 may be for useful than others. How would you like to have a talent 520 for painting bowling balls? Not too useful, perhaps, or lucrative, 521 but it may give some personal pleasure not known to insurance 522 salesmen. Those who know what their gifts are are fortunate, indeed. 523 Most never find them. So, by your description, Johnathan took the 524 easy route, and never needed to stretch himself. A waste of good 525 protoplasm, while Randall, if he was performing to the best of his 526 abilities, gets my vote. Secondly, to parry, my internal value 527 system depends merely on whether I have paid the price for my dreams. 528 I happen to know my gifts, and indulge myself in them, and set goals 529 for myself which few mortals would dare. If I fail them having tried 530 my best, I feel I have stretched my potential enough and may fail with 531 honor. Letting a dream die without giving everything I can to achieve 532 it, however, is a mortal crime against myself. I have never failed to 533 date. 534 For your second question, I defer to Ursela K. Leguin's "Those who 535 walk away from Omelas". 536 .............................GENERAL MACAIBO.....................{ 537 ******************************************************************** 538 The next moment he was blind. it required only the space of 539 a heartbeat that he couldn't feel for the ripping panic of 540 sensory deprivation to take hold. He began flailing at the air 541 with hands he could no longer sense at the end of nonexistant arms. 542 With no sight, no sound, no feeling, the panic quickly became an 543 all devouring force threatening to blot out any memory that he had 544 ever existed at all. But in that panic, Marc again reached out as he 545 had in the Garden, stretching out his consciousness as he'd 546 practiced time and time again against the landragon, to try to sense 547 something, anything in the abysmal nothing that surrounded him. 548 Then for an instant he thought he saw Ben's face. Not as he 549 remembered it, but in the room with him now. He fought to force 550 open the crack he'd found and realized that it was a door. Suddenly 551 he could see! He let his vision travel across the room, then focused 552 again on Ben. He could see the triunphant look on his face. Ben nodded 553 once, and with a wrenching feeling like that of being dropped 554 suddenly down an elevator shaft, his senses were returned to him. It 555 had taken only the space of a heartbeat, but an entire lifetime had 556 passed for the child. He looked around himself, correlating his 557 new senses with what he saw. It was less than telepathy, but more 558 reliable. Not clairevoiance, but a growing sense of knowledge 559 behind the obvious. 560 Ben picked him up, still lying on the platform where he'd fallen 561 and carried him out of the room. Marc could sense now that those 562 behind him were not cold or silent. He did not stop to make sense 563 of the words spoken to him by his companion, nor could he understand 564 the significance of the excited bedlam in the room he was leaving 565 begind. 566 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 567 I pause in my story for a sip of cider, and note that the fair 568 lady 'd' is glancing my way. I smile, but she has turned aside. 569 A shy one that. Perhaps now would be a good time to introduce 570 myself. But no, there's dear Pam, suddenly radient after her long 571 gloom, settling into the table, perhaps for a long awaited and 572 deserved moment of relaxation. 573 Instead, I motion to our good Innkeeper, and pull a gold coin 574 from my vest. As I place it in his callused palm, I note his eyebrows 575 raise slightly wondering where a simple storymonger comes by such 576 wealth. Let him guess. I say, "Allow Pam her evening's rest, and 577 fetch your finest ale, for they will be in need of refreshment." 578 As he turns to go, I add "And get a plate of scraps for yon fire 579 lizard, and a vial of oil. The creature will also need tending." 580 He turns, and heads for the cellars where Henry, our good Innkeeper, 581 keeps his private reserve. 582 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^daver^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 583 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 584 VALINOR: CHEER UP GOOD FRIEND, THERE ARE GOING TO BE ENOUGH 585 CRAZIES AT THE INNCOUNTER TO KEEP IT GOING UNTIL YOU'RE OFF. 586 BUT KEEP ME INFORMED OF YOUR PROGRESS, FEAR NOT. 587 CONTREMON 588 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 589 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 590 591 NO, GENERAL, NOT A JERK, MERELY TOO WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING THAT REALLY 592 DOESN'T MATTER! THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM HERE, SINCE YOU HAD ROOM TO ENTER YOUR 593 MESSAGE, AND FOR ME TO RESPOND. AND BY LATE TONIGHT, MIKEY WILL UNDOUBTEDLY 594 PROVIDE US WITH 629 MORE LINES! I USED TO WORRY ABOUT THE SPACE HERE BEING 595 USED UP TOO QUICKLY, UNTIL DEAR CISTOP REMINDED ME THAT THE SPACE IS LIMITED 596 ONLY BY THE TIME IT TAKES HIM TO CHANGE DISKS. SO DON'T PERSPIRE TOO MUCH, IT 597 COULD BE MUCH WORSE (THOUGH YOU PROBABLY CAN'T IMAGINE HOW, RIGHT?). I'LL 598 FILL THIS DISK UP TO LINE 629 NOW, BUT WHEN MIKEY'S DONE, THERE'LL BE SPACE! 599 (If I may interject, 629 lines is too short when every time I call the damne thing is FULL!.....the Phantom Glitch) 600 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM+[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 601 602 replaced with this by an innocent bystander, afeter~~~~ter someone replaced 603 WON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR INTERJECTING INTO MY LAST MESSAGE, SINCE IT WAS A 604 SPACE LINE YOU TOOK, THOUGH OTHERS MIGHT THINK IT THE HEIGHT OF.... WELL, I 605 THINK I'LL JUST IGNORE IT. >