1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ************************* INSTALLED: 24 DEC 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 privately 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 privately 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 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 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 21 My, my, my! I haven't been able to get in in a couple of days and here I 22 am **AT THE TOP!! YAHOOOoooUUuuu*** 23 (Is that sufficient celebration??) 24 ppppppppppppppppppppp 25 Colors wound round the piper and the pegasus. A slight chill brought goose 26 bumps to his naked shoulders (it seemed eternities since he had abandoned his 27 blood-soaked shirt). A broad band of blood was slowly oozing down his right 28 side, coming out through his unbroken skin in a pattern matching the oozing 29 slashes on the pegasus' side. The winged catlike carnivore was revolving, 30 weightless, on its own axis, the piper and the pegasus revolving slowly, linked 31 together by the piper's arms about the pegasus' neck. In one hand, the piper 32 cluutched a pole, about three inches in diameter near the wad of roots and 33 dirt where it had been torn from the earth, and tapering to about two inches 34 where it had long ago been broken into jagged splinters. The piper was aware 35 of the soft skin of the pegasus against his chest and arms -- soft as silk 36 in the direction the hairs lay, sharp and prickly against the grain. Her 37 heart beat strong and steady -- he knew that she had lost much blood, and with 38 it strength -- her sweat coated his skin with froth and brought added chill. 39 He gave very little thought to this, however. His eyes were tight on the 40 slowly revolving carnivore, stunned by that desperate blow of her hooves. 41 He knew that if the winged cat was not discouraged by that last setback, his 42 life as well as the pegasus' would be caught in the ensuing struggle. 43 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 44 >>------------------------------------------------------------------------<< 45 46 Merry Christmas to all the patrons of this fair Inn. 47 And a very happy and peaceful New Year. 48 49 >>------------------------< Brendan >-------------------------------------<< 50 51 +-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+ 52 The continuing saga of Tarn reminded me of a story I had heard a 53 long time ago, after much searching I finaly found it, it is an old 54 English tale. The author has long since been forgotten; 55 It was winter, and a solitary man wandered the hills, his gait 56 shambling and slow. Once he had been comely, but now his bones stretched 57 the pale skin of his face, and his eyes were sunk in shadows. The man 58 had been brought to this pass by an encounter during the spring. 59 The land was blooming then. The meadows were carpeted with primrose 60 and heartsease, and the air was laden with the sent of lavender. 61 One bright morning, he set out for the Inn. He rode briskly at 62 first, but the country roads were warm and quiet, save for the 63 blackbird's song and the echoing notes of the cuckoo. Soon the man's 64 horse slowed to a walk. The man rode on drowsily dreaming. 65 After some time, his reverie was broken by a fluttering movement 66 near an oak beside the road. He spoke, but no one replied. Curious, he 67 dismounted and strode to the tree. 68 "Come out," he said. A trill of laughter was the only reply. "Come 69 out," he called again. A woman stepped lightly into the road and stood 70 before him. She seemed clothed with the dawn, for her clothes were the 71 color of rose petals, and she was crowned with a cascade of fiery hair. 72 She met the man's gaze with green cats eyes as shy as any forest 73 creature's, and in that instant the man was lost. 74 Without speaking a word, he held out his arms to the woman. She 75 came quite willingly, it seemed, and he lifted her to the saddle of his 76 horse. In a language he could not understand, she wispered to the 77 animal, which turned obediently from the road and, with the man walking 78 alongside, threaded its way through the trees and into the sunny meadows 79 that lay beyond. 80 They traveled thus for hours, now in a field and now in a shady 81 forest. From time to time, the lady spoke softly. The man picked 82 wildflowers for her, and with nimble fingers, she fashioned them into 83 garlands for her blazing hair. 84 When the sun stood high in the heavens, she began to sing, weaving a 85 net of melodies around the man who walked beside her. She leaned from 86 the saddle and peered into his eyes with a look of such absorbing 87 tenderness that he could not speak for longing. 88 At last, when the afternoon was well advanced, the lady spoke a word 89 in her strange tongue, and the horse halted in a small elder copse. The 90 man lifted her from the saddle and looked again into her face. He saw 91 inexpressible sadness. Tears glistened in the green eyes and glittered 92 on the lashes. The man kissed the woman then, but she drew herself from 93 his arms and once more began to sing. 94 Light as the morning mist, the voice coiled around him, and his eyes 95 grew heavy. He swayed and sank to the ground. He saw for a moment the 96 rosy clothes of the lady and her bright red hair, swinging as she bent to 97 watch him. Above her head the canopy of leaves wheeled. He closed his 98 eyes. 99 As he slept, he dreamed of darkness. He saw a line of men haggard 100 and gray in death. Their gray lips were split over gaping black mouths, 101 and shadows filled their empty eye sockets. The lips moved, and he 102 realized that the ghostly figures were calling his name. Their bony 103 fingers waved, summoning him. 104 He awakened bathed in icy sweat, staring up through the leaves at 105 the stars. He was alone. He sighed and closed his eyes and slept again. 106 Dawn came, and the man woke again with a premonition of dreadful 107 grief. The woman was gone, having taken his heart from his breast. He 108 knew that she had left him as surely as if he had seen her die. He knew 109 from then on, every hour would be achingly empty. His fate had come upon 110 him, a life full of yearning that never would be satisfied, of calling 111 and hearing no reply. 112 Sick with desire, he rose and searched. He hunted through the copse, 113 but found no sign of the woman. He searched the meadows, following every 114 path and byway, and still he found no sign. 115 So that day passed, and the next, and the next. The flowers faded 116 in the fields, the harvests were gathered in and the birds ceased their 117 singing. Still the man wandered, a gaunt figure silhouetted against the 118 winter sky, a man bereft of hope but not of longing. 119 At last he could walk no farther. He lay down on the bracken. The 120 final sounds he heard were the moan of the wind and the hoarse cries of 121 quarreling rooks. 122 When the villagers found him, they said little. But, when they were 123 safe in their homes again, they wispered of fairy enchantments and of the 124 ranks of mortals who were victims of fairy love. They spoke with fear as 125 mortals often did when they talked of the powers of Faerie. 126 Emris 127 +-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+ 128 129 130 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/ 131 Milch:I have used an unmodified commode-64 ONCE! The other one had a real 132 serial port, and was running decent software. 133 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/ 134 A TOAST 135 ------------ 136 Here's to you 137 and here's to me 138 May we never disagree 139 But if we do disagree, 140 Then here's to me. 141 _innocent bysitter_ 142 *_)@#$*!)_*$_)*!$_)*$_*@#_)$*@#)_*%#_)*%^_)$%*_)*)@_#*%_@#*%_)@#%*@#_)%*@_)%@% 143 La Femme: Au sujet de femme, bien sur! Mais je ne comprende pas toi. Je ne 144 crois pas bien ce que vous m'avez dit! Oublier quoi? Parlez donc! 145 _@)*%_@)#*%_)@*%_*@)_%@%*@_%* L'homme sans Parity - s'embrouiller *_#@*$_@$*@_ 146 ps:please excuse any mistakes... 147 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 148 L'homme: If you keep the French bit up I'll just have to unleash my Spanish. 149 #$##$##$##$##$# 150 "Well, Mr. Farley, how would you like to work for the NET?" 151 I was in shock. The NET wanted me? 152 "Why? What would I do?" 153 "You would do as you have been doing, looking for Joshua. Only you'd bring him 154 here, not to your former employers." 155 "Won't that make them mad?" 156 "Probably. Believe me, they can't do anything to you even if they wanted." 157 It sounded good, but still I wondered. I used the old line, "What's in it for 158 me?" 159 "Resources, and a suitable sum of currency. The amount will be based on the 160 job, contract basis. Do you agree?" 161 Hell, why not. "Agreed. First, where's the XD-40?" 162 The gentlemen left, and soon returned with the weapon. "Right here, Mr. 163 Farley. Joshua was last seen in Portland, at 10th and Taylor. Got that?" 164 "Sure. Just show me the way out." 165 I was led through a maze of corridors (all alike) and given an identification 166 card. "Here's the lift, Mr. Farley. Good luck." 167 In a flash, I was back up in the empty lot. Fred hadn't budged. 168 "Farley! Are you all right? Where were you?" 169 "I'm okay, Fred. I just had a little visit with the NET. Nothing to worry 170 about." Yet. 171 "Do you know, then, where to go now?" 172 "Yeah. 10th and Taylor. No rush, though. I have to get a motel room first." 173 "Ah, er, your employers run a hotel a few blocks from there, Farley. Perhaps 174 they would give you free lodging." 175 "FORMER employers. No, I think I'll skip that one. Find another. I'm beat." 176 #$##$##$##$##$##$# Farley #$##$##$##$##$##$# 12/24/84 - 10:16 #$##$##$##$##$# 177 JoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshua 178 "Well, how are we feeling today?" I looked up at the speaker and grinned. 179 "Good as new, Cameron." He scowled at me. "'Doctor Bangs', please. Let's 180 try to maintain a modicum of professionalism here. And as the doctor, may *I* 181 make the determination of your fitness?" As he set about examining my 182 frostbit extremities, I reflected on how lucky I had been to have been 183 transferred here to Willamette Falls. The rescue team that found me took me 184 to the hospital in Mattress, but they threw up their hands in despair when 185 they saw my condition. They decided the only place that could do anything 186 for me was Willamette Falls, and Dr. Bangs, who was a well-known expert 187 on cold-related injuries. (I think another reason they didn't want to keep 188 me was that the anti-'neeshie feelings were running high in the area, and they 189 feared for the safety of both me and their hospital.) 190 "Well, I guess I must second your opinion," Dr. Bangs told me when he 191 finished poking and prodding my anatomy. "As far as I'm concerned, you're 192 ready to go. How is Dr. Abraham doing with your memory?" "I'm afraid things 193 are about the same there," I reponded quietly, my pleasure in our friendly 194 banter suddenly lost. "I see faces but no names, scenes without even 195 subtitles, and I DON'T REMEMBER WHO I AM!" I bit off the words, and turned 196 and looked out the window, trying to regain my composure. 197 The good doctor offered a few token words of comfort, but finally left. 198 He was good at healing the body, but his skills at healing the psyche were not 199 so well developed. 200 I sat there, staring out the window, not seeing what I was looking at, 201 wallowing in self-pity. Wondering who I was, what I had done. I looked at my 202 hands, examined the scars from the freezing and resultant surgery, the 203 callouses from my hidden past. I flexed the fingers, enjoying the lack of pain 204 and the restored agility. If only the mind could be healed so easily. 205 Tiring of the pointless and frustrating introspection, I got out of bed 206 and headed for the lounge. What I needed was some human contact. 207 Arriving, I discovered no one there. Oh yeah, they were all at the Christmas 208 pageant. Bah humbug. I definitely wasn't in the mood for that. 209 I dropped into a chair, and picked up a several-day-old newspaper. Desultorily 210 flipping the pages, an article suddenly caught my attention. 211 "The Cast of NET.... 212 ....NET agents L'homme and Gaudy Minsky...... 213 ....Joshua..." 214 joshuajoshua joshua ua josh oshua... the name rang through my head, shaking 215 loose disjointed images of people and places. Suddenly I knew who L'homme sans 216 Parity was, and Gaudy Minsky, and most importantly, I KNEW WHO I WAS. 217 Joshua, the article had named me. Yes, at that time I had been Joshua. 218 However, that had not been my first identity. I barely remembered the name 219 I had been born with, and I doubted if even the almighty Ian MacHinery knew it. 220 I realized now what had happened. The pressures of the interrogations at the 221 commune, the life-threatening struggle in the wilderness, the loss of control 222 while under anesthetics here at the hospital, these had all combined to trigger 223 the post-hypnotics implanted by the NET to maintain their security. 224 As it turned out, the suggestion had been somewhat faulty, and that unique 225 individual *I* had been restored by references in the newspaper. 226 Rather fortuitously in this case, since there were no NET shrinks handy to 227 bring me back, but I'd have to let Ian know that his technique wasn't 100%. 228 Oh yes, NET. I finished reading the article, and sat there puzzled. 229 According to this Woodward character, NET was no longer active. This did not 230 jibe with what I knew about them, as NET was not a government agency, and even 231 such successful snoops as Jack Anderson should not have been able to find out 232 anything about them. Unless..... yes, it was undoubtedly a planted leak. 233 After all the noise created by the McKane thing, they had had to get out of the 234 public eye somehow, so they 'disbanded'. They probably reorganized their 235 branch offices, but the core organization would still be intact. 236 Now, how to find them....? 237 ............................................................................... 238 THE CLACKAMAS COUNTY REVIEW - 239 Police still have no clues on the whereabouts of the 'John Doe', who 240 disappeared from the Willamette Falls Hospital two nights ago. Clackamas 241 County Sheriff spokesman Noah Commente told the REVIEW, "Yeah, he was the 242 'neeshie that escaped from their commune down there in RAINdeer. He was purty 243 badly frostbit, and didn't even remember his name. Them damn' commies prob'ly 244 practiced their brainwashing tricks on the poor fella. Anyway, it seems he 245 snuck into the doctors lounge and stole a set of clothes, then took off in 246 the doc's car. Poor guy was probably outa his head, after what he'd been 247 through. We're all lookin' for him, and we expect to find him and the car 248 soon." When asked if the man was considered dangerous, detective Commente 249 replied, "Naw. The guy's prob'ly wacko, but the doctors here say he's 250 harmless." Spokesmen for the hospital had no comment. 251 .......................... 252 THE CLACKAMAS COUNTY REVIEW - 253 Sergeant Noah Commente, former spokesman for the Sheriff's office, offered 254 a public apology yesterday to the Dangerfield commune of RAINdeer. 255 Sergeant Commente had made "slanderous and unsubstantiated statements" to the 256 press about the commune, according to commune spokeswoman Ma Prem Rivers, 257 while he was commenting on the disappearance of a former commune member 258 from the Willamette Falls Hospital. Commente could not be reached for an 259 interview, and the Sheriff's office had no comment pending the outcome of 260 the internal affairs investigation. 261 ................................................................................ 262 After 'escaping' from the hospital (I hated to treat them so shabbily 263 after they had been so kind, especially Dr. Bangs, but now that I had my 264 memory back, I couldn't afford any questions), I ditched the car in the 265 Clackamas River near the North Fork dam, and caught a ride back to Oregon City 266 with a returning fisherman, and then thumbed my way to downtown Portland. 267 There, I flopped with some of the street people I had met in the commune. 268 Now, a week later, I was ready to move. I had made contact with the 'criminal' 269 underground and obtained needed equipment, scouted out the relevant buildings, 270 and everything was set. Everything, that is, except disk space. 271 As this has gone for almost 100 lines, you'll have to wait for the next 272 exciting installment. 273 (with apologies to Doctor Cameron C. Bangs, MD) 274 JoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshua 275 PS - Farley: please don't find me yet, I've still got some things to do. 276 Thanks, Joshua. 277 278 279 Omega lifted one black and sopping boot onto the next step, trying wearily to 280 make it to the top of the flight of stairs. Water poured in streams from the 281 gaping slashes in the sides of his boots. Slashes made by sharpened roots, and 282 other things submerged below the blackened green waters of Louisiana bajous. 283 284 It had been three days on foot since Omega had entered the swamps. It was 285 nearly impossible to find Doctor Lloyd's laboratory from the air, even with 286 compass points. Something to do with heavy magnetic distortions from metalic 287 ores under the swamps, anyway... 288 As the Omega stepped onto the highest step and started looking at where in the 289 hell he was, it was a shock to see flourescent lamps, tiled floors, especially 290 glassware. Civilization, thought Omega, this is where I belong. 291 292 As if to finish off the joke, Omega stepped into the small laboratory and 293 started dohn the halls, trying to find the restroom. 294 Turning one corner, he bumped into a small round nursing attendant, who made 295 a really annoying shreik after one long look at him. Somehow, Omega expected her 296 to faint, after all that is the way it all happened in the movies. Was it not? 297 She righted herself, and stood straightly for a minute. ssibly pondering if 298 she ought to try for the alarm. 299 Omega stuck out a moss stained arm, and opened his hand to reaveal a Net 300 indentification card. She seemed calmed by this. 301 302 "I assume you want to speak to Doctor Lloyd?" She said obviously trying to 303 make up for being scared by praising Lloyd. 304 "I have some questions about possible mind blocks on the higher up's." Omega 305 had a theory. What if Joshua's mind block about security protection had failed, 306 it was entirely possible Joshua it was a mindless zombie somewhere. If he it was, at 307 least they would know. At least they would stop wondering. 308 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 309 Petrov sat in his car across from the empty lot. It had been at least an 310 hour since the man he'd been following disappeared while examining an empty can. 311 There was something familiar about this address. Hmmmm... Oh yeah! 312 Petrov smiled widely. Joshua had told him about this empty lot. 313 {fade to memory sequence} 314 {place: Dragon room torture chamber} 315 "Why me? Upside-down again!" Petrov was suspended over a bed of hot coals. 316 He eyed Joshua and L'homme. "Why do you guys get to be righ-side up?" 317 "Can't you see we're talking here?" Irritation was plain in Joshua's voice. 318 L'homme had ben talking to Joshua in one of the NET's secret languages. Petrov 319 wished he had paid more attention in his "NET secret language" class he had 320 taken at the McKane Academy. He DID understand most of the conversation, 321 though. Since McKane knew about this language, it had to be one of the older 322 and simpler ones. Petrov dismally scanned the room while keeping an ear on the 323 discussion. 324 "...and there's these two guys who like to pretend they're NET agents," 325 L'homme said. "They operate out of an empty lot in Portland." Both men 326 laughed. "It's a pretty popular joke among our NET operatives. I remember this 327 time they took a man off the street, showed him around their hideout, and sent 328 him on some fool mission!" The pressure of the situation made the story seem 329 funnier than it really was. The captives laughed hysterically. 330 Suddenly their laughter was cut short by a strange rumbling noise; a corner 331 of the room caved in. A Tank? 332 "Ian! We were just starting to have fun in here..." 333 334 Petrov snapped back to the present. Last he knew, the NET was considering 335 taking over the elaborate empty lot for their own purposes. That was about five 336 months ago. Petrov decided he'd have to talk to an OFFICIAL NET agent to 337 discover whether or not they had done so. 338 Petrov was confused and intrigued. "I wonder who that captured man is REALLY 339 dealing with? NET? Psychopathic pseudo-spies? Hmmmm." 340 Petrov 341 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 342 343 This is beginning to get interesting... (Confusing, too!) 344 345 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 346 347 Say, is it just my modem needing adjustment, or are the phone lines 348 sick, or what? This is ridiculous. 349 350 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 351 HELLO. I OWN A NEC PC 8800 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KN_W IF THERE IS ANY ONE 352 ELSA IN THIS WORLD THAT HAS ONE TOO.IF YOU DO HAVE ONE CALL 663-5030 AND ASK FR 353 354 NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS 355 INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR COMSET / NET AGENTS / FOR YOUR EARS ONLY 356 357 AGENTS : AS YOU KNOW OUR RECENT PRESS LEAKS HAVE ALLEVIATED INQUESTS 358 FROM CERTAIN SECTORS. BY USING THE POPULAR PRESS, WE HAVE GAINED AN EDGE OVER 359 OUR ENEMIES. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW LONG THIS SIDETRACKING WILL CONTINUE TO BE 360 SUCCESSFUL, SO TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. 361 THE PRIMARY MISSION FOR NET REMAINS THE RECOVERY OF JOSHUA, WHO WE 362 ARE QUITE POSITIVE IS STILL ALIVE; BUT HIS CONDITION OR WHEREABOUTS REMAIN 363 UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. 364 AGENTS PARITY, MINSKY, FELLOWS, AND FLEMMING HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO 365 PORTLAND, AND WILL CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH FROM THAT LOCATION. ADVANCE 366 LOGISTICS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED. 367 ALL NET AGENTS MUST BE WARNED ABOUT A RECENT RISE IN UNAUTHORIZED USE 368 OF OUTDATED NET CODES, AND AGENTS USING FORGED NET IDENTIFICATION, FOR AS YET 369 UNDETERMINED PURPOSES. WITH THE RECENT PRESS COVERAGE AND THE RUMORS 370 CIRCULATING ON CAPITOL HILL REGARDING MONETARY SUPPLEMENTS TO NET, SOME 371 SPLINTER GROUP HAS FORMED, AND ARE EMULATING 10-YEAR OLD NET PROCEDURES, WHICH 372 HAVE BECOME PUBLIC RECORD UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. 373 ITEM LAST REGARDING PORTLAND'S SAND-LOT HEADQUARTERS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, 374 THIS POPULAR JOKE AMOUNG NET AGENTS HAS TURNED OUT TO HAVE A RATHER IRONIC 375 TRUTH TO IT. IT SEEMS AS IF SOME OF THE SPLINTER GROUP IMPOSTERS HAVE 376 UTILIZED THIS LOCATION TO SET UP AN ADVANCE BASE. DETAILS ARE STILL SKETCHY, 377 AND FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE RELAYED VIA COMSET AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. 378 NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS 379 hello my name is charlie i just got this 380 new auto modem for christmas 381 382 goodbye 383 384 385 386 help 387 stop 388 exit 389 break 390 exit 391 fokjngo:onbobnm;=;Lnvontgr 392 exit 393 394 395 Charlie: Congratulations on getting a new auto-dial modem for your(I assume) 396 Commodore...but next time, if you don't know what you're doing 397 please read the instructions. For help on BWMS, type "help". 398 To leave, type "off" and turn off your modem(manually). Merry 399 Christmas, 400 "Batman" 401 P.S. Disk space IS limited here, so I took the liberty of deleting a bunch of 402 blank lines...didn't touch anything you entered... 403 404 WE WANT TO WRITE A MESSAGE BUT WE DONT KNOW HOW TO DO IT . CAN ANY BODY HELP T 405 WHAT DO WE DO NEXT? CAN ANY BODY HELP US WITH THIS PROBLEM? 406 HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS MODE????????? 407 HELP 408 409 410 oh joy oh joy, all those new modems for christmas 411 Look out BBS's, here they come...... 412 PLEASE SOMBODY RESPOND TO THIS!!! WHY 413 WOULD ANYONE WANT A COMODORE 64? 414 EVERYONE KNOWS THERE TRASH!!!! 415 OFF 416 HELLO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HI 417 FRIEND MANNIX DIZON 418 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/ 419 Mikey:It looks like the next few days will be a haven for folks who hit return 420 when faced with a blank line. Just a reminder of the bright side to this, 421 some of them may be here to write and talk! 422 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/ 423 MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERY cHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISTMAS! 424 425 FROM DAN AND MATT 426 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 427 Gad!! New modems for Christmas!! Looks like we're in for a grand 'ol time for the next couple of weeks! 428 MiG and Sondargaard: Prometheus has told me that you feel I was unfair in my criticism of teenagers out on dates in 20' 429 tall 4x4s. If you would drop me a line on either this system or Le Nerd, perhaps I could explain myself. 430 Until next time, May your gods be with you, stringing happiness throughout your life time, And I hope you had a wonde 431 rful Christmas season. 432 Zippy 433 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 434 435 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 436 Ye gods, what a tangled web we weave... and on a Christmas day. 437 #$##$##$##$##$# 438 I rested quietly in my room, pondering events. Things were not as they seemed. 439 I wondered who really did what to whom and when, and most importantly, if 440 anything was done to me. I needed Fred to help me straighten things out. 441 "Fred? Farley here. Anything on that ID card the NET gave me?" 442 "Yes, Farley. It was made by mail-order by a novelty shop in Portland. 443 I'm afraid the people you were dealing with were phonies." 444 Great. I'm going to have to stop waking up to such great news in the morning. 445 "And John? Did you contact him? I have this funny feeling they messed around 446 with the XD-40. Seems okay, but..." 447 "No luck. He seems to have disappeared. Have you seen today's paper?" 448 "Why?" I really wasn't in the mood for hearing about the latest war in the 449 middle east. "Anything special?" 450 "Just that a man escaped from a hospital not too far from here. He matches 451 Joshua's discription, and he was treated after exposure to extreme cold. 452 Remember the snow near RAINdeer?" (Yes, I have changed the reference. EF) 453 Could it be? Wait, hold it just a second here. Who do I bring him to now? 454 I don't like or trust the Beeshies. I definitely don't bring him to anyone 455 that passes out false ID cards... Who, then? 456 ...............the Real NET? 457 "Fred, get warmed up. First, we find John. I want this thing examined. Next, 458 we get you fitted with some more gear. I have had this strange feeling of 459 being followed. Then we find out more about the NET, but this time I mean the 460 *REAL* NET. If it exists at all, but the doubt is getting less all the time. 461 Lastly, we find Joshua, and bring him to whoever I trust at the time. Got all 462 that?" 463 "I think so. Farley, I've been working on your first name now for quite some 464 time now, but I have still had no luck. Won't you tell me?" 465 "What brought this on?" This car was acting stranger all the time. Hey, wait, 466 this thing is a machine. Stop thinking of it as human. 467 "I...just need to be successful at something. I've bungled nearly all of the 468 jobs you gave me. I want to do something right, even if I have to ask you. 469 What is your first name, Farley?" 470 "Ok, ok. It's Eugene. Now be quiet, and let's get to John's shop." 471 "Farley-", Fred began. 472 "Yeah, now what?" I was getting a mite irritated by this time. I don't 473 believe I just told this stupid thing what my first name was. 474 "I've found out what your name is. It's Eugene." 475 Great, I thought, it's redundant too... 476 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$# Farley #$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 12/25/84 - 08:42, Merry Xmas 477 Hey, anyone: is Nerdolux back up? If so, why is it IMPOSSIBLE to get on? 478 Curiously yours, FF 479 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Why do so many people say that 480 481 C-64's are trash? I my self don't like my apple much and wish expanding it w 482 as as easy and inexpensive as my friends c-64...... 483 Wondering Why=================== 484 The vehicle came in for a landing at NET headquarters. It's appearance and 485 means of propulsion would have astonished onlookers, that is if it's owner 486 had _allowed_ the onlookers to perceive it. 487 Before stepping onto the roof, he checked the contents of his pack. 488 Yes, everything was there. He closed the pack and approached the entrance. 489 Eluding the guards took but a fraction of his attention. He thought 490 about his mission as he strolled towards the resident agents' quarters. The 491 NET prided itself on being considered mythical. To HIM that was laughable. 492 He chuckled at the thought. 493 He normally worked at night, but for people whose schedules were as 494 erractic as his "targets", he would make an exception. 495 He entered the apartments as if they were unlocked. In each he 496 secreted items from his pack. None of the sleeping agents stirred. Not even 497 the notoriously light sleeper, L'Homme! 498 He left as quickly, and silently as he had entered. Any observer 499 would have been hard put to put believe how little time he had needed. But 500 then, he was a professional. He'd been doing this sort of thing for AGES. 501 As he left, he consulted a list. Ah, yes, Petrov! As he drove off 502 he set a box marked "Fredrick's of Hollywood" on the seat next to him. 503 ............................ 504 We shall observe the discovery of only one of tne "surprises" that 505 he has placed. 506 ............................. 507 Ian awoke with a feeling that something was not quite right. He 508 arose carefully, checking for danger before each move. He began a slow 509 careful search of the room... 510 There! That package! It hadn't been there when he went to sleep. 511 Ian knew better than to do as movie heroes often do and plunge the package 512 into a tub of water. Too many bombs would DETONATE when the water reached 513 the wiring. He did not call for help, anyone who could get a package into 514 his room WHILE HE WAS IN IT could have rigged the door or phone. 515 He'd deal with the package first, then the door, then the phone. 516 ..... 517 Sometime later, he had finished opening the package. All it contained 518 were a tape, a book and a card.... 519 the BOOK! It was a copy of Machiavelli's "The Prince". Ian had been 520 meaning to get a copy, but had never had the time... 521 He checked it carefully... 522 no, just a book. Hmmm. Someone had picked a strange way to 523 deliver a present? 524 He set the tape aside after determining that it, too was safe. 525 .......... that left the card.... 526 ... this side was blank... 527 He picked it up and turned it over... 528 529 Merry Christmas, Ian. 530 I thought you might like the book. The tape 531 is only 18 minutes, but you and the NET 532 should enjoy it. 533 S. Claus 534 535 IT COULDN'T BE! Could it? He threaded the tape into a player. 536 A few minutes later he turned off the tape, ashen-faced, 537 and poured himself a drink. 538 It HAD to be real! Who else could have a copy of the the "missing 539 eighteen minutes"? Ian shook his head. 540 MERRY-CHRISTMAS:MERRY-CHRISTMAS:MERRY-CHRISTMAS:MERRY-CHRISTMAS:MERRY-CHRISTMAS 541 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY 542 FARLEY, "THE VACANT LOT PEOPLE", PETROV, ETC 543 YOU ARE _INVITED_ TO ATTEND THE PORSFIS MEETING THIS SATURDAY 544 (DEC 29) AT 2PM IN THE MAIN AUDITORIUM OF THE DOWNTOWN BRANCH OF THE 545 MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY. 546 PURPOSE: "TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST" 547 IAN MACHINERY 548 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY 549 Ian - was that *REALLY* you!? I'm amazed! You _Never_ leave such 550 elaborate & lengthy entries. Has the 'Deus ex Machina' become rusty? 551 Far out! And Yes, Joshua and Petrov will be in attendance. 552 ------ 553 Farley - we were going to suggest that you could 'selectively' ignore 554 whatever didn't fit with your visualizations, but I see we were too late. 555 Petrov tried to leave it open for you, but a subsequent author was not 556 quite so cooperative. So sorry. You managed to roll with it well, though. 557 Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov 558 NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING 559 According to authorities on mind control and disinformation, the best 560 subjects for brainwashing are not, as one would expect, the weak, the 561 stupid, or the renegade. On the contrary, people with discipline, intell- 562 igence, and loyalty are the best targets. They have a capacity for ideal- 563 ism and enough of an attention span to absorb the new system , to let it 564 completely supplant the old. 565 Whoever controls these things in Dangerfield's organization saw immediately 566 that Agent L'homme was too cynical and Agent Minsky too utterly disorgan- 567 ized to be good subjects, but saw in Agent Joshua all of the qualities 568 desirable in a willing malleable intelligence. Indeed, we recognized these 569 characteristics ourselves when we first recruited him and gave him 570 NET training. It is not clear to us what the 'Neeshies have implanted in 571 his mind, but we are fairly sure that, if he is aware of it on a 572 conscious level, he knows too much to be safe. 573 And we don't know how much of our own training has become...inoperative. 574 NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING 575 (...and for you, Petrov, BRIEF NETTING BRIEF NETTING BRIEF NETTING) 576 to be continued on the next disk------G. Minsky 577 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV 578 Emris--good entry; nice style. 579 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV 580 ps: Yes, it WAS me (at least between MY borders). 581 Note to Petrov. It is NOT necessary to wear txe contents of YOUR 582 package to the meeting. 583 Oh, and Alex, get ready for another cipher.... 584 Ian MacHinery 585 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY 586 587 Note - Joshua and Petrov are two seperate characters, written by two different people. 588 The previous combined message was the result on negotiation, not collusion or 'single-mindedness'. 589 JoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshua 590 591 ~~~~~~Who guards the Guardian but his PaPa~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 592 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ PaPa Smurf, Go away! I can handle it. Really! --->the perplexed Guardian 593 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 594 My goodness! I seem to have nearly bracketed this disk. I'll leave a few 595 spaces so I'm not really on the 596 B O T T O M ! 597 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 598 599 600 My, how things can change in 24 hours...from pegasi to NET operatives!! 601 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/Luingil/\/\/\(I'll be at PorSFiS)/\/\(NEXT DISK!)/\/\ TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 601