1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ********************* INSTALLED: 9 FEB 85 ************************** 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 {~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~} 21 { The teller of tales had wandered from afar. Upon reaching the Inn he had } 22 {warmed himself by the fire (for he was from a far more warmer clime). After } 23 {finishing the spiced cider he had ordered, he began to tell a tale.... } 24 { ALF LAYLAH WA LAYLAH. 25 { In the Name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! } 26 {PRAISE BE TO ALLAH * THE BENEFIECENT KING * THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE * } 27 {LORD OF THE THREE WORLDS * WHO SET UP THE FIRMAMENT WITHOUT PILLARS IN ITS } 28 {STEAD * AND WHO STRECHED OUT THE EARTH EVEN AS A BED * AND GRACE, AND PRAYER-} 29 {BLESSING BE UPON OUR LORD MOHAMMED * LORD OF APOSTOLIC MEN * AND UPON HIS } 30 {FAMILY AND COMPANION-TRAIN * PRAYER AND BLESSINGS ENDURING AND GRACE WHICH } 31 {UNTO THE DAY OF DOOM SHALL REMAIN * AMEN! * O THOU OF THE THREE WORLDS } 32 {SOVEREIGN! } 33 { } 34 {AND AFTERWARDS. Verily the works and words of those gone before us have } 35 {become instances and examples to men of our modern day, that folk may view } 36 {what admonishing chances befel other folk and may therefrom take warning; and} 37 {that they may peruse the annals of antique peoples and all that hath betided } 38 {them, and be thereby ruled and restrained: --Praise, therefore, be to Him who} 39 {hath made the histories of the Past an admonition unto the Present! Now of } 40 {such instances are the tales called "A Thousand Nights and a Night," together} 41 {with their far famed legends and wonders. Therein it is related (but Allah is} 42 {All-knowing of His hidden things and All-ruling and All-honoured and All- } 43 {giving and All-gracious and All-merciful!) that, in tide of yore and in time } 44 {long gone before, there was a King of the Kings of the Banu SaSan in the } 45 {Islands of India and China, a Lord of armies and guards and servants and } 46 {dependants. He left only two sons, one in the prime of manhood and the other } 47 {yet a youth, while both were Knights and Braves, albeit the elder was a } 48 {doughtier horseman than the younger. So he succeeded to the empire; when he } 49 {ruled the land and lorded it over his lieges with justice so exemplary that } 50 {he was beloved by all the peoples of his capital and of his kingdom. His name} 51 {was King Shahryar, and he made his younger brother, Shah Zaman hight, King of} 52 {Samarcand in Barbarian-land. These two ceased not to abide in their several } 53 {realms and the law was ever carried out in their dominions; and each ruled } 54 {his own kingdom, with equity and fair-dealing to his subjects, in extreme } 55 {solace and enjoyment; and this condition continually endured for a score of } 56 {years. But at the end of the twentieth twelevemonth the elder King yearned } 57 {for a sight of his younger brother and felt that he must look upon him once } 58 {more. ......... } 59 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Al Hajji~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 60 61 -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- 62 Not to be left in the cold, Rosewood decided that the best time to enter 63 an empty room was just after the lights had been turned out and the door 64 had just been closed. He wasn't to good at picking windows, quite noisy 65 actually, but then what need was there to be quiet when the room was empty 66 anyway? Having totally given up with the picks, he tried the more subtle 67 approach: quantity one fist meets quantity one window pane. He was amused 68 by such things, broken glass had a tendency to remind him of Bolivia. 69 As he attempted to pull himself through the glass, the tie that his mother 70 had chosen for him before he went off to work had just become a decidedly 71 smaller tie due to all the broken glass and the tact with which he passed 72 by it. After all was not said and done, Rosewood crept to the door with as 73 little noise as possible. Poking his head out the door to see if his subject 74 had left the hallway, he found his nose in a rather odd predicament, it 75 had become lodged in Taggart's laft shoe. 76 "Billy, what do you think you're doing down there? And would you please 77 take your face off my foot?" 78 "Oh, hi. Just checking..." 79 "If you mean- is Semplers gone yet? Yes, he is. He got on the elevator 80 just as I was getting off, not in much of a rush either. I guess you didn't 81 scare him too badly with all that noise. What was it anyway... Nevermind, 82 I don't want to know." 83 Rosewood just came back with, "yea... huh? well..." His standard reply. 84 At that, Taggart wakled into the room and closed the door behind him while 85 turning on the overhead lights to scan the surroundings. 86 "Nothing unusual, the basic Thrike telephone scrambler modulator with all 87 the accessories... "said Taggart with a smile. "Too bad we never can tell 88 just when these things are going to be flipped on..." He then noticed 89 Rosewood sticking his finger his ear just to get rid of that sound. 90 "Yes, and as could be expected, Nothing else. Why do they always leave 91 these dumb modulators behind anyway?" wondered Rosewood. 92 "Kind of like adding insult to injury, I would guess," replied Taggart. 93 Showing some promise as to possibly becoming a top level agent, Rosewood 94 spots a three-ring binder sitting out on the dresser with the half open 95 drawer. "Hey, I think we have something here. Take a look at this... 96 some sort of a journal with lots of copies of missing ship transit orders. 97 "That's just a plant. C'mon... Think! We know that he's into salvage, but 98 for what reason, God only knows. Start looking for something better than 99 that, Billy." 100 "Like what, the modulator?" he says in jest. 101 "Hmmm... You just might have something there. He could be trying to use 102 reverse psychology on us by leaving it in the open like this. Maybe it IS 103 something he wants to hide from us. What better place to hide something than 104 out in the open?" Taggart began to ponder his last statement. 105 "Wouldn't that be to easy? I think the answer is in this binder somewhere." 106 says Rosewood as he flips through some more pages. 107 "C'mon. Let's get a couple of guys to get this thing out of here," ordered 108 Taggart. "you can bring the binder with you if you think it will help." 109 Rosewood closed the binder and put the remainder of his tie in his pocket and 110 followed Taggart out of the room. If only he knew... 111 _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-- abacab _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ 112 113 *************************************************************************** 114 to all: i guess we did it, many thanks to all who supported my defense, 115 piper, i could kiss you, pam, thanks so much you words are always 116 read with the utmost of holiness around here. and all others, 117 who supported me, thanks again. you see with unity of goodness 118 we have swept the evils out the door and turned our backs to it. 119 hope to see as many of you that can spare the time at the 120 semi monthly meeting at PC&S; err tommorow about 2:45pm? 121 ********************************happykathyd********************************* 122 `'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' 123 SCHOONER FEVER 124 125 They sail across the mind like puffy trade wind clouds; those sirens 126 of the sea. Fever rises in the mind---A fever only the feel of wind, 127 sail and salt spray can cool. 128 `'`'`'`' -alchemist- `'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' 129 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 130 "Yes, that's the van all right," I said again. 131 L'homme, in the meantime, had pushed the poor FIAT to its ill-defined limits. "How good of shape is the motor in, 132 anyway?" I asked as I heard the engine strain all the more. 133 We dodged cars until we arrived at the intersection, then turned. The van was moving along at a fairly slow pace in 134 plain sight just two blocks away. 135 "I've got an idea. How about we get a car labled 'Student Driver' next time so no one will pay any attention to your 136 driving?", I said. L'homme just grinned, amused at my nervousness. 137 The van slowed, and then stopped before the delivery entrance of a film-developing shop, one of many occupying this 138 part of Portland. Two men got out of the cab, and opened the end of the van. They hauled two coffin-sized crates 139 labeled 'Kodak film' into the shop before L'homme brought the FIAT to a rest just a half-block away. 140 "C'mon, time to earn our keep, Farley. We'll observe the place from out here for a while then move in as opprotunity 141 allows. How are you at waiting patiently?" 142 "Not too good, I'm afraid. I'd like to go in that film shop and see what's developing." 143 L'homme winced at my poor joke. "Another pseudo-pun like that and Ian'll have your job. Let's wait the arcade across 144 the street. Arcades are usually crowded and no one will notice us." 145 Following L'homme's lead, we crossed the street and soon were immersed in the noises and lights of the arcade. 146 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# Farley #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 09:32 - 02/09/85 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 147 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 148 The Policeman has quit, that's right, 149 he has to many other things to do, than 150 tell about his experiences 151 long gone, 152 The Policeman 153 154 p.s. If anyone wants to take over 155 him, I wouldn't mind at all. 156 Goodbye forever...... 157 158 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 911 159 160 THE THIEFTHET THETHIEF THETHIEF THETHIEF ------------------------------------ 161 162 HI< I Ii, I am new around here. I will try tofit in if I could. The stories on here 163 are pretty darn good. Too bad the policeman is leaving, I hope he enjoys whatever he is going to do. 164 165 Becky T.- That's a good story, and what a good moral. 166 167 Kathyd - I don't know what happened to you, but sorry it had 168 to happen to you. 169 170 Farley - I really enjoyed your 171 story, keep up the good 172 work. 173 174 Well, here is my try at writing a story. 175 176 177 As I walk into the 7-Eleven store I see cameras everywhere. I thought to myself, how was I going to rob this place? 178 Then I snuck back into the back room 179 of the store, I know there has to be 180 a switch somewhere to turn the cameras 181 on and off. As I looked to my left I 182 saw a switch that said "CAMERAS" so I 183 flipped the switch. I then snuck back 184 out and noticed that the cameras had 185 stopped and i approached the cashier. 186 I told him to give me all the money 187 in the register. He says, I just 188 all the money into the safe about five 189 minutes ago. I felt angered and pointedmy gun in his face, the cashier says 190 I am telling the truth! How much money 191 do you want? I will write you a check 192 How is that? I'll give you my VISA, butplease don't kill me. I decide to take 193 the check. I told the cashier to write 194 it for $3500. He gladly wrote me the 195 check. I've never had an easier 196 robbery. I then leave the store quicklyand take off in my car. As I look in 197 my rear-view mirror I see a Policeman 198 following me. He points at me to pull 199 over so I do. He says, Your car fits 200 the description to the car that just 201 robbed a 7-Eleven store down the road 202 about 5 minutes ago. I told the officerI didn't know anything about it. The 203 officer asked me to empty my pockets. 204 As I empty my pockets the check falls 205 out, and the policeman picks it up, and 206 says, "i thought you said you didn't know anything about the robbery? " I then 207 hit him straight in the face, and start 208 running off, and I hear him say, "Don't 209 you want the check? I am the POLICEMAN 210 i quit today. Here take it, and get 211 out of here before some other cop 212 comes around looking for you." I 213 couldn't believe it I met the POLICEMAN and he was nice enough to let me go. 214 I took off with the check, and spent 215 it the next day on a new car. I couldn't believe today, but it really happened.I stopped off at 7-Eleven the next night 216 and the cashier didn't mention a word tome about the check he wrote me, the 217 closer I looked at him, I noticed that 218 the cashier was MATT DILLON, and now 219 I knew why he didn't mind missing $3500 220 it was already a millionaire, and I wentup to him and asked him for his own 221 autograph, and he gladly did it, and told me if I was ever in need of money, 222 just come and ask for it. He said that 223 he was trying to rehabilitate robbers, and he did a good job of curing me. 224 225 The End 226 227 Sorry for all the blank lines, I did 228 them on accident. 229 230 231 thethief thethief thethief thethief 232 -----------------------------------. 233 234 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 235 B.S. ---- The man, the woman??? 236 237 238 I take my new black Celica out for a test drive. As I drive down I-5 I 239 floor it, and notice it maxes out at 205 MPH easily. I then slow down, and 240 see this good-looking girl, in a car that was an old-beater. I leaned over 241 to roll down my window, and asked her if she would like a Ferrari . The 242 blonde looked at me strangely, and half-laughing says sure. I pull over 243 to Classical Cars Unlimited, and told her she could have any car that was 244 on the lot. She blushes and says, "I couldn't do that, by the way why are 245 you doing this, and I explained to her that I just won 7 million dollars 246 in the Oregon state lottery, and I passing my winnings on down to other 247 people who needed it more than me because I was already a mass millionaire 248 before the lottery. She then picks a bright red Lambourghini, and offers 249 me to come over to her house. I couldn't resist. I follow her in her new 250 car, and I drueled all the way there. I pull into her driveway, and step 251 out of my car. She invites me into her house, and we go into her bedroom 252 and start making noises. One hour later, I thank her for the good time, 253 and told her it was my first time. She goes I meet alot of guys like that 254 they seem to never done it before. I give all you guys lessons. I then 255 go thanks for the lesson on "How to drive more than 55 times!" 256 257 258 The End 259 260 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 261 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 262 allright who don'it I can't read anything after the broken glass hit my eyes! 263 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 264 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 265 i thought it was line 121 that did it and I read the rest of the file, i 266 like the theifs imagination and creativity with the policeman. I'll enter 267 something substancial later tomorrow! that's good news to some of you and 268 bad news to those of you who don't like my style 269 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 8ACICFP< 270 271 everyone heere benefits from the presense of others... in some way... even if it is not obvious... we learn how to dea 272 deal with each other... 273 274 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (to the point) 275 tilean: How unlike you to leave only a few words, even if they do carry much 276 meaning with them. It all depends. Get well soon, friend. 277 All: Just passing through myself. Maybe I'll put in another entry with 278 another of my personalities as a mask. It all depends. 279 Farley: I was glad to meet with you again. All of you. 280 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the accompanied Guardian 40:17 281 282 ******************************************************************************* 283 The mood was tense as Tina and Jack entered the building, Tina was dressed 284 in a gray wool suit; with side slits a modest 5 inches on both sides. Jack 285 had been well groomed for the occasion. Tina had had Jack up to the wee hours 286 coaching him on pit procedure. Her role would be to direct form the sidelines. 287 They stopped at the cafe and picked up coffee and bagels, after wolfing them 288 down and getting a good dose of cafe, out team was ready for action. 289 Marci and Tony were waiting out the next two days in Marci's condo, 290 needless to say; there personalities clash terribly and they were at 291 each others throats. 292 tony: Marci, your such a s**t, what do you have planned for poor 293 Jack? you know he's very impressionable. 294 Marci: Tony, you ignorant misguided fool, open your eyes and see what 295 is real. Jack and I have very special chemistry, your just 296 experiencing jealousy because he thinks of me when he wakes up\ 297 and not you. 298 tony: You b***h, ill get you... 299 300 Tony jumps up and leaps over the couch, catching his foot on the top 301 tipping the coach onto its back and Tony on to his face. 302 303 Marci: see that's what you get, you klutz, im afraid i may have to lead 304 our mission the day after tommorow. 305 306 tony: (wiggling his nose with his finger) I think it's broken tin, could 307 you get some ice? 308 309 Marci: your delirious, my name is Marci, get your own ice. 310 311 Marci stomps into her room slaming the door. (a lock turning is heard) 312 *********************************kathyd**************************************** 313 Kathy: I don't know what kind of terminal you are using, but PLEASE be 314 moer careful about making corrections. In your previous entry (not the one 315 above) you sent some ESC sequences to correct your msg. They may have made 316 it look ok on your terminal, but they kinda scrambled things on mine... 317 ___________________________________Leonard_________________________________ 318 319 tilean stepped out of the elevator... watched all the people seep into the lobby... made his way for the front doors... 320 a long gray sleek car pulled in front of him... tilean opened the hatch door... and stooped to enter it... the interior was 321 normal... so was the dash... no excesses aside from the gray telephone set to the side of the drivers seat... 322 323 markesson was out of the drivers seat and walking around to the passenger seat... and tilean unlocked the door for him... 324 "i always did enjoy having the driver's seat on the wrong side..." said tilean mockingly... 325 "only wrong for some people" ssaid markesson... entering... just as mockingly... 326 327 "say... how are you... i have not seen you since stockholm in eighty-one..." said markesson. 328 "i am fine... i lack a true sense of the tongue here though... i am sure you noticed... i am less than fluent here... makes 329 me real nervous..." said tilean... as if speaking to a life long friend... 330 331 "i almost want to say it..." said markesson... 332 "say what..." asked tilean... 333 "it has been said before..." 334 "what is it..." demanded tilean... getting just a little annoyed with the joke... Whatever it was... 335 336 "i hope we're in for some gratuitous sex... and violence..." uttered markesson... hoping for the words to sink in before the 337 referrence did... 338 339 "you watch too many movies... anyway... what is the situation here..." asked tilean... gaining a very serious sound to his 340 words... 341 "well... two soviet submarine are docked in one of our port cities... although we have the port officials and everyone else 342 on our pay list... no one seems to be able to find out what they're doing down there..." tilean's harsh and serious tone had 343 obviously worried markesson... and it was that worry which warranted such an unfeeling report... strict words and phrases... 344 345 "i had heard of radiological testing that turned up some nuclear problems in one of them..." said tilean still seriously... 346 "the siakesk... in three sections of the submarine... there are three distinct sites of radiological presense..." 347 "accidental leakage..." asked tilean... scaring markesson... 348 "possibly... it would not hamper them leaving port though... and soviet submarine never stay in any one port longer than is 349 absolutely necessary..." said markesson... worry showing through in his intonations... 350 351 tilean noticed the worry... it ought to be dealt with... first he ought to think... not staying in one port long was left 352 over from the days of yarnosk in the russian navy... it was odd to see other people operating under the orders of a friend... 353 354 "perhaps they suffered more damage than just to their missiles... perhaps they had to abort a launch... it is possible you 355 know... several of our agents think that the soviets almost tried first strike... and the submarine commanders had to abort 356 launch on there own..." 357 358 "i know of the theory... it states a soviet mistake ordered all the submarine based misiles fired... and the order had to be 359 aborted by each submarine... the submarine in the berring sea was the only one to not abort all of the launches..." corrected 360 tilean... wondering why markesson was so slow in explaining... 361 362 "right... the berring sea launch took attack course towards a german port city... the soviets shot it down... but not before 363 causing a very international incident first..." said markesson... trying to be as cold as tilean was being... served him right 364 too... 365 366 tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt 367 368 why is tilean being so damned cold... i know him... he is not like this... something has affected him in administrations... 369 something is worrying him... or something is scaring him... and if it is scaring him... i ought to have been informed... so 370 if i have not been informed i did not need to know... and god knows i have enough reason to know things that what it is... it 371 is pretty damned important... 372 373 "tilean... why are you here... this is routine clean up... why is a big shot administrator attending to small fry satraps 374 like us..." asked markesson... 375 "i... wanted to... uh... i wanted back in the field... i could lie about thinking this was bigger than it was... i... uh... 376 wanted back in the field... okay...?" said tilean... 377 378 markesson was calmed... it made sense... tilean did not seem to be lying... he was just plain tired of administrations... so 379 this was a sort of... vacation for tilean... no need to do anything beyond normal paperwork... 380 381 tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt 382 383 lying to markesson had not been easily done... but tilean knew markesson suspected something really big... and markesson was 384 right... if only tilean could have permitted markesson to go on beleiving that... 385 (Swish)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>(Poof!) 386 And so I return, a few disks later. I wonder what I missed? 387 Since poems have been in demand hereabouts I believe I'll put in one: 388 THE WIGHT 389 Across his darkness is deathly chill 390 He is silent, in starchy still, 391 Waiting to glean his empty fill. 392 393 Sinewy strength is his, and firey fight 394 Out of sight, his horrendous might 395 Then the light! Flees the wight. 396 (Poof!)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Master Changer >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>(Swish) 397 s:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:s:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks 398 As I was walking to my room after a test on Salem, I saw a large koala bear carrying a bag. "Hello," I cried. Once I had 399 gotten him out of the Dean's possible line of sight (she would have thought he was conjured, and would have demanded he be 400 sent back), I asked why he had come. Not that I expected him to know, he usually did't, but it was a courtesy to assume he had 401 a purpose. 402 After I gave him a cup of eucalyptus tea, I started my excuse. "I tried to go to the Inn last night, but my carriage broke." 403 I explained, trying to give a new excuse. It was always something, but really I wanted to be perfect when I met them. He 404 sounded upset and said that if I didn't want to go, I should just say so. 405 "No, no. I want to go, but I don't know how to act. Some of my companions have a gift for sang-froid. My talents are differ- 406 ent. I like the patrons I have met: you and The Man in Gray. I like what I have seen of other people, but there are certain 407 things- phrases which must be avoided, people who must be flattered- things that I MUST know before I jump headlong into a new 408 circle of people. 409 "And anyway, I'd rather wait until they're through discusing espionage exclusively." 410 I put oil on my willow staff (willow is the Moon's tree and my devotion is to her) and thought about the spell caster with 411 the rowan wand.He is another reason why I do not go; rowan is the Kelt's prophylactic against witches, and a tree of fire- wil 412 low is a tree of water; if he were to be against me, I would have to call onn Her or lose. 413 The Former told me about his newest leaf and I slowly decided to try to go to the Inn again, but I'd have to prepare. Agree- 414 ing that preparation might be in order, he politely took his leave. 415 416 I washed and put on a white dress and cape. I got my book and staff. Just as I was leaving I remembered my gloves. Now, I 417 thought, if you fail this time, they will never forgive you. 418 When I was fifty cubits from the Inn, my horses started to behave as if I'd never trained them. Surprized, I tried to come up 419 with a reason. "Of course!" I said rather too loudly, "it's the tree." There is a rowan tree outside the Inn and my horses 420 were trained with the Art. So I tied them to a nice, safe oak tree and walked the rest of the way. 421 There were the usual people crowding outside by the windows, "the lurkers", and I seriously considered joining them. But I 422 had promised I'd go in the Inn, so in the Inn I decided to go. 423 424 Lady S. 425 426 s:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:ks:k 427 428 Sarah, I love you. 429 430 Theus 431 432 433 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (such preparedness) 434 Lady S.: I had been given short notice that you would actually venture down 435 the way to the Inn once more. This time I am pleased to find that you were 436 not in the rush to leave and had entered a passage on the subject that had 437 been given only too small of rememberance lately. 438 Having received a gracious nod and a word of warning, I too shall 439 join you already within the Inn shortly. (my story has a bad habit of being 440 written down before I enter it. It's never been continued for I haven't sat 441 back down with pen in hand for such a task since the Shut-Down Scare of '84) 442 Hopefully, the trend that I had been initiated with shall return with some 443 strength and familiar names behind it, names only in the memory, names still 444 to be born. (You listening out there d, Pam, Tarn, and Milchar????) 445 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the awakening Guardian 41:06 446 447 (oh, I almost forgot)^^^^^^^^^ The New Creators (welcome aboard) 448 449 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 450 The piper sat at a back table, skean dubh in one hand, the razor-sharp 451 edge peeling microscopic slivers off a recalcitrant reed. Squinting, he 452 examined the lip and binding of the reed -- even, firmly bound, it should 453 work.... he placed it to his lips, and a SKRAWW, like the call of a 454 startled crow, cut through the firelit atmosphere of the inn. 455 Smilling faintly, the piper took a draught from the jack of ale sitting 456 on the table next to him, sloshing a few drops when he put down the tarred 457 leather container a little more firmly than was truly necessary. 458 Pulling the chanter from his stand of pipes, he fit the new reed to it and 459 tentatively blew a few scales. A taroulath, a crunluath, hidiroch, haroo 460 -- ahh hirrichin ahhhooo hirrichin--- the translation of the sustained 461 notes into vowel sounds and the rapid bubbling gracings into consonants 462 was automatic. Replacing the chanter into its stock, the piper swung his 463 piper 464 s to his shoulder and strode out onto a less packed area of the inn's 465 worn plank floor. With one great breath, he inflated the bag, tapped the 466 drones into unison, set his fingers dancing over the chanter to 467 "The Black Bear's Hornpipe." 468 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 469 THIS SYSTEM SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 470 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 471 ........So difficult to get on now days..... 472 L'homme, 473 So in your professional opinion the results are nominal...Indeed 474 I must agree. There does not seem to be any skewing of rolls..It seems to 475 depend on sound strategy. What were Gages thoughts ? 476 Thanks for the excerpt. 477 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 478 479 alchemist, 480 You speak of things long forgotten but always remembered. Nuances 481 of a younger time. As I type this my mind drifts back ..the smell of charcoal 482 and broiling flying fish..of "seetru"..of steel drums lilting in the night 483 ..of fetes and carnival past. Many and strong are those memories.. 484 But the spice ambrosia never has passed my lips. My trip to 485 St. Georges was too short. The Bajan skipper was taking his family up 486 the chain, and my commitments would not allow more time. So it was 487 back to Sam Lord's Castle on LIAT for me. Looking down from the "plane" 488 ( and I use the term loosly ) I kept searching for another making the passage. 489 That telltale triangle cloth against the iridescent blue. The search was 490 in vain. 491 Driving home through cane fields, I kept thinking...my first voyage 492 .first voyage... The thought kept kept a smile on my face for weeks. 493 Where were you in July of 74...I was just across the harbor from 494 Anse Mitane. Parental obligation required my passage across the fair 'baie' 495 to indulge one of my fathers business associates son in an arcane scottish 496 sport, ( sorry piper ) we tilled the soil and they discussed matters of 497 << GREAT IMPORTANCE >> 498 ....restaurants..roulette theory..chemin de fer..and many of the other vices 499 that make the province so unique. The name of the farm we were so diligently 500 excavating was the " Empress Josephine ". Before returning to the city, 501 he suggested we eat at a small " Beachstro " near the ferry. 502 I believe that was Anse Mitane. My memory clouds there ...as I remember 503 just the good food and the bikini... ! singular !. At 17 I was suffering from 504 hormonal overdose. Several hours later when I regained my power of speech 505 I spoke of nothing but returning .... 506 A promise I plan to keep one of these good years. 507 508 509 ....45 foot Schooner EH.. My MY MY ...Would It's name be familiar 510 to one who spent many a year crawling docks, eyeing anchorages and 511 listening to sailors tales. From the land of 'Red Stripe' north to the 512 family isles and south to the homeland of ' Fernandos ' ?? 513 ::::::::::Alex:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 514 )_%*)_#%*)_%*#)_!*%!_)%*_^)&#$)_^&*#_)^&!#_)%&*#@$)_^*#+)_^*!#_)^&#_)^*_)^&#_)^*#)_^*#$)_^&)_*#_)^#_)^&#)_^&*#_)^&_#)^& 515  516 Arcadia... The noise; the flash; the darkness; the light. Rows of machines catering to eager youngsters partaking of a 517 bit of excitement and fantasy for a few silver coins. Each machine was occupied; each machine busy supplying its operator 518 with thrills, chills, and eventual death. 519 "HAH HAH INTRUDER! HAH HAH HUMANOID!" 520 Back to reality. L'homme and Farley stayed close to the door, straining to see through slots on the black art board that 521 covered the windows and added to the dark decorum of the arcade. The van and its two former occupants were across the 522 street. #Kodak Delivery boys? Hardly.#, though L'homme. #I would sure like to know what is in those boxes they carried.# 523 "Hey mistu...", a voice tugged for my attention. "Mistu, you got change for a dolla?" "Sure kid." He handed my a dollar 524 bill, and L'homme responded in kind with four quarters. He turned without saying a word, and placed a quarter on top of 525 the nearest CENTIPEDE machine. #What's a kid with a New York accent doing in NW Portland? I better check this out.# 526 "Farley, watch our friends. If they start to leave, whistle." Farley nodded. L'homme turned to the nearby game machine, 527 but the kid was gone. #The dollar bill he gave me!# It looked normal enough. No special markings, nothing unusual at all. 528 #Wait...The series date. It can't be! Not yet...A message, it's got to be.# L'homme returned to the front where Farley 529 still watched across the street. "On the jump! We are moving in. Better check on Betsy, things may get a little hot." 530 "Why the sudden decision?", Farley queried, and he had every right too. "Never mind for now. Let's go." 531 Two men cross the street. Nothing unusual to the untrained eye. Who could see these men were heavily armed, and intent 532 on relieving two delivery men and a developing shop of a big load of film. The door crumbled under the half-charge from 533 L'homme's gun. The crash was closely followed by the two men entering the shop, shooting first, asking question to anyone 534 unlucky enough to be left alive later. Sudden bursts of violence are shocking to some, but in the working life of a NET 535 agent, such bursts are the norm, rather than the exception. 536 #Farley will just have to get used to it.# L'homme relieved a rather evil looking gunman from his will to live. The rather 537 one-sided battle only lasted a few moments. The two delivery men, and the lone ehop employee were now out of action. 538 "We have got to move fast. Grab the cannisters. You take one end, I'll take the other. We've got to get these things to 539 the car before the local law enforcement representatives arrive. No time to notify Ian about the attack, so we are on 540 our own.", L'homme directed his new partner, who followed directions to a tee. A minute later they were in the car, speeding 541 away (as much as the FIAT could handle) and ignoring the curious stares of confued onlookers. "I'm going to drive up to 542 Gabriel Park. I want a little privacy when we open our Christman presents.", L'homme glanced back at the new found 543 gifts riding in the backseat. Farley was shaken, but not as bad as before, right after the twinkie truck incident. 544 "Don't worry,", assured L'homme. "you'll get used to it. You have to, or you won't be worth a proverbial plugged nickel." 545 Farley noded his head, and began reloading Betsy. Three quarters of a clip had been used in the shootout. Pretty quick 546 shooting considering how little time actually transpired. Silence was the third occupant of the car, until the sign pointing 547 the Gabriel Park exit appeared on the left. "Here's our turnoff." L'homme downshifted the Fiat, and turned into the parking 548 lot. A blue late model Dodge was the only other car in the lot. L'homme parked, pulled the parking brake into place, and 549 turned to Farley. "Well now we find out if my hunch was right." #Hunch! We just killed three men on a hunch!# But Farley 550 knew better than to voice his opinion of L'homme's supposed Dirty Harry morality. Sometimes things are just better left 551 unsaid. 552 *%)_@#%*@#_)%*_)#%*_!*%_!*%_!)*%_)!*%_)* 553 Sorry about the Point of view violation halfway up (My->L'homme). My mistake compounded by Enter Only. Should have been more 554 careful. 555 Alex:Drool...I have never been East of Detroit, or South of Baja. All I can do is read about the globe trotting done by 556 you and Alchemist...sniff. 557 Mikey:Disks are fine. Thanks again. 558 Piper:I am supposed to see the prof on Monday. Wish me luck. 559 Farley:Let's see what Santa has brought us! 560 %*_)#%*#_)%*!)_%*_!)*%@!_)%*_@!#)%*&@_#)!%*!@#_%* L'homme sans Parity *%_)*%_)*%!_%*!_)%*_)*$#@_)*^_#$)^*#_^*#_)^*@^@ 561 562 if betsy is a revolver... then why does she have a clip... just wondering... ever sincerely... tilean... neighborhood thrike 563 agent... 564 565 oh yes... it occurs to me that the Inn is progressing perfectly... and it is obvious... what with the wide grin on my face.. 566 anyway... thank you very much... one and all... especially cistop mikey for doing This... 567 568 <<:*******************************************************:>> 569 570 Bill Broonzy: 571 572 What a pit. If the Grand Dragon Master weren't working 573 full time we'd have a chance to get involved at Backwater. 574 Too bad he loves that job so much. I'm ready to see some 575 action. 576 Looks like were out of luck. It's a tough life being 577 McKane Industry characters. 578 579 Monsieur d' Autun 580 <<:*****************************************************:>> 581 {~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~} 582 {~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~} 583 {So he took counsel with his Wazir about visiting him, but the Minister, find-} 584 {ing the project unadvisable, recommended that a letter be written and a pres-} 585 {ent be sent under his charge to the younger brother with an invitation to } 586 {visit the elder. Having accepted this advice the King forthwith bade prepare } 587 {handsome gifts, such as horses with saddles of gem-encrusted gold; Mamelukes,} 588 {or white slaves; beautiful handmaids, high-breasted virgins, and splendid } 589 {stuffs and costly. He then wrote a letter to Shah Zaman expressing his warm } 590 {love and great wish to see him, ending with these words, "We therefore hope } 591 {of the favour and affection of the beloved brother that he will condescend to} 592 {bestir himself and turn his face us-wards. Furthermore we have sent our Wazir} 593 {to make all ordinance for the march, and our one and only desire is to see } 594 {thee ere we die; but if thou delay or disappoint us we shall not survive the } 595 {blow. Wherewith peace upon thee!" Then King Shahryar, having sealed the mis- } 596 {sive and given it to the Wazir with the offerings aforementioned, commanded } 597 {him to shorten his skirts and strain his strength and make all expedition in } 598 {going and returning. "Harkening and obedience!" quoth the Minister, who fell } 599 {to making ready without stay and packed up his loads and prepared his requi- } 600 {sites witout delay. This occupied him three days, and on the dawn of the } 601 {fourth he took leave of his King and marched right away, over desert and } 602 {hillway, stony waste and pleasant lea without halting by night or by day. But} 603 {whenever he entered a realm whose ruler was subject to his Suzerain, where he} 604 {was greeted with magnificent gifts of gold and silver and and all manner of } 605 {presents fair and rare, he would tarry there three days, the term of the } 606 {guest rite; and when he left on the fourth, he would be honourably escorted } 607 {for a whole day's march. As soon as the Wazir drew near Shah Zaman's court in} 608 {Samarcand he despatched to report his arrival one of his high officials, who } 609 {presented himself before the King; and, kissing ground between his hands, de-} 610 {livered his message. Hereupon the King commanded sundry of his Grandees and } 611 {Lords of his realm to fare forth and meet his brother's Wazir at the distance} 612 {of a full day's journey; which they did, greeting him respectfully and wish- } 613 {ing him all prosperity and forming an escort and a procession. When he enter-} 614 {ed the city he proceeded straightway to the palace, where he presented him- } 615 {self in the royal presence; and, after kissing ground and praying for the } 616 {King's health and happiness and for victory over his all his enemies, he in- } 617 {formed him that his brother was yearning to see him, and prayed for the } 618 {pleasure of a visit. He then delivered the letter which Shah Zaman took from } 619 {his hand and read: it contained sundry hints and allusions which required } 620 {thought; but when the King had fully comprehended its import, he said, "I } 621 {~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Al Hajji~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~} TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 621