1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ************************* INSTALLED: 1 JAN 87 ************************ 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 :::::::O O:::::::00:26:30:::::::::::::::::::::::::::01/01/1987:::::O O::::::::: 21 Can we withstand the strain? 22 The Earth and the moon are aligned, causing the highest tides in decades... 23 The first disk of the new year, fresh and clean, and I'm 24 at the top 25 It can only be down hill from here; I might as well retire. 26 (but first perhaps a peek behind the brown door...?) 27 :::::::O O:::::::::::::::::::voyeur:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::O O::::::::::: 28 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 29 Some *very* odd noises were emitted by the door (or whatever was beyond)... 30 More pounding, a bit of silence, then the clatter of wood falling and a bit 31 of what could only be cursing, uttered in a language that could not be diserned. 32 Interesting. The new texture of the door was beginning to look familiar, 33 somehow. Now where had I seen anything like it before? 34 Grann might remember. Where was he? Nowhere nearby, out of range. Probably 35 over-indulging somewhere. I'll probably have to teach him Sonwitt's 36 Sober-Spell on the morrow. 37 +++ A very happy new year to all the Innhabitants, 38 +++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar +++++++++++++++ January 1, 1987 at 2:12am ++++++ 39 Voyeur: I am further interested in the employment opprotunity you spoke of 40 recently. Where might I get more information? Please call when convenient 41 for you. If you do not have my current landline connect sequence then dial 42 the old one and someone should supply it. Or, if you are so inclined, obtain 43 it from those parties who have it. Thanks in advance, + Milch + 44 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 The Innkeeper woke. (It seemed tp the loudness of her thoughts). 47 He moved toward her. "Aha!" he exclaimed, "So it is you. Welcome to 48 this humble establishment we call the Inn. What can I serve you?" 49 The shadows dropped from her like a curtain and he could see her 50 dark eyes peep out from her dark cloak. "Which ever drink you think 51 best," she said formally and then laughed. The Inn suddenly became 52 warm to her, and familiar faces seemed to come out of no where. 53 "How have you been?" 54 The sound came then, a rumbling. The Innkeeper turned and so did 55 she, looking at the door. 56 "What--" she breathed, "is happening?" 57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 ################################################################# 59 "What do you suggest for a drink?" The voice came from 60 behind the hooded cloak. But with that laugh as she threw back 61 the hood and shook her hair free of its confines, and I knew who 62 she was. Ah, my friend, I know not what you desire these days. 63 It's been a while hasn't it? Perhaps a warm glass of ale with a 64 stick of cinnamon? 65 The rumbling noise came from the door in the back again. 66 "what was that?" she exclaimed with a start. 67 Nobody really knows, it just appeared one day a couple of 68 months ago, a door that used to lead to one of the back rooms was 69 replaced by that metal thing. The noises and vibrations have 70 been coming from behind it ever since. For some reason at the 71 break of the new year it decided to remind us of its existance 72 with this lastest outburst. I don't know what it is all about, 73 and I fear for the safty of the Inn. Yet there doesn't seem to be 74 anything that we can do. The best people of the Inn have tried 75 and come away empty handed. 76 There are still people working on it, but other then the 77 curtain to cover it there doesn't seem to be much I can do about 78 it right now. Here's your drink, now tell me, what have you been 79 up to these days? And what has brought about the cause for this 80 unexpected and most pleasent visit? 81 ######################## The Innkeeper ########################## 82 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 83 The night rain stung the face of the piper as his sodden shoes slipped 84 in the rutted mud of the road. The wool of his kilt hung heavy with its 85 load of moisture, keeping some warmth in his body, but slapping at his 86 legs with frigid claws at every halting step. His tattered plaid wrapped 87 his shoulders covering a small kitten draped around his neck -- its small 88 furry body giving him one small focus of warmth, although it had started to 89 shiver with the cold. His eyes had long ago adapted to the darkness, picking 90 up each vagrant photon, but light was almost completely absent. Occasionally 91 he would see bursts or whorls of light, particularly when a foot would slip 92 and jar his cold brain, but he knew that they were artifacts of sight too 93 long unused. 94 The soft gleam of light through shuttered windows suddenly came into view 95 as he slogged around a bend. In the faint reflections of the night rain 96 he saw a familiar rowan tree bending and shaking in the night wind. Only 97 a few hundred feet to warmth and a chance to dry out. 98 The familiar weight of the scarred wooden door felt like a familiar hand 99 reaching out to him. Even the slight catch as it scraped open across the 100 threshold releasing the aroma of woodsmoke and nut-brown ale, the gutter 101 of candles dancing in the draught, the mutter of tales in shadowed corners 102 held a sense of home-coming. 103 Moving quietly down the stairs, he slipped unnoticed up to the bar. The 104 innkeeper was quietly conversing with someone in a dark cloak, someone 105 who seemed to be oddly familiar, but hidden by the hood, someone he could 106 not quite recognize. Shivering slightly, he unwound the tattered plaid 107 from his shoulders and set the small furry burden on the bar. Throwing the 108 plaid back over his shoulder, he coughed, caught the inkeeper's startled 109 eye, and asked diffedently, "Have you any of the autumn ale? And perhaps 110 a saucer of cream for my little friend here?" 111 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 112 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 113 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * K W H * * * 114 115 It was a cold and lonely friday night as a loner walked the road to the inn. 116 Clutching his coat close to him, he bundled up tightly and regretted the lack 117 of better transportation. The rain almost stung the life out of his weary 118 body, and he ventured to ease the pain. 119 Coming in, cold and wet, the man sat in the corner. He had been warned many 120 times about this place, and how quickly it could get violent. The Innkeeper 121 was indeed most slow in serving him. It seemed he was engaged in conversation 122 with two of the regulars. 123 Once the Inkeeper had gotten his order, he bruoght the drink quickly. The 124 hot tea was delicious, and he savored both the aroma and the taste. After 125 finishing the tea, he was sated, and felt much better in the process. It 126 seems that things have changed a lot 127 After the tea, he walked over to the bar and sit down. He ordered a second 128 cup of tea, and sat to listen to the people. The tales were indeed more rich 129 than the tea, and he was most satisfied and pleased. It seemed they had a new 130 door put in, and he wanted to ask just where it went. he had nott seen it that bright outsite in a long time... 131 132 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * K * H * * * * * * * * * * * 133 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * W * * * * * * * * * * * 134 off 135 O\=<([V2V])>=/O 136 ********************************************************** 137 What ever happened to the yearly rush to Backwater by all 138 the new modem ers? Does this mean the beginning of the 139 end for BBS's? Will things continue to be so dead, then 140 eventually die? What a shame. 141 142 Horace 143 ********************************************************** 144 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPs 145 146 "This," muttered Cragmore to himself, "is getting ridiculous." 147 The psi specialist looked up at the door again. An inquisitive innhabitant 148 had drawn the curtain away to examine the door some ten minutes ago. Five 149 minutes, and a great deal of ancient spells and incantations later, the 150 stranger had fled the Inn in a great deal of disgust. 151 Bard looked up from his songbook. "Did you say something, Cragmore?" 152 "Oh, no, just muttering to myself about that damned door again. With 153 all our skills and abilities, you might think between the bunch of us we 154 could figure out what in Elreb's name is going on!" Cragmore was visibly 155 agitated. Bard had never seen his friend in such a state before. 156 "So we failed in our attempts at a permutation solution to the door. We 157 will think of something else. We always have before." Bard set the songbook 158 down on the table, and in one swift motion, drained a tankard half full of 159 ale. 160 "Or," Milchar, who had been sitting at the end of the table with his 161 back to the mysterious door, "the door will reveal its own secret in its own 162 good time. Patience is a virture, you know." 163 Cragmore slapped his hand on the table. "Spare us your pontifications, 164 Milchar. I am worried there might be something malevolent behind that door, 165 and if that is the case, I don't want to be caught waiting around for 'it' to 166 decide what to do with us. Let ye who not be prepared be the first fallen." 167 "Hypocrite!" charged Milchar. 168 "Ok, you got me there." smiled Cragmore. "But you do see what I mean, 169 don't you?" 170 "We all see what you mean." Bard said in a level voice. "But perhaps 171 Milch is right. We have tried everything. We got no where. Face it, we aren't 172 omnipotent, and there are a few mysteries left in the multi-universe that 173 we just can't understand. Take a look around, everyone else is doing a pretty 174 good job of ignoring the door, why can't you do the same." 175 Cragmore paused. "What about the wiz..." his voice trailed off. He knew 176 the others were right. One of the benefits of being able to look into other 177 people's mind was the resolute ability to examine one's own mind. It didn't 178 take much searching to reveal the truth. "You are right. I guess we just sit 179 back and let the door and whatever is behind it making all that noise do to 180 us what it may. But never say I didn't warn you!" Cragmore ended his speech 181 with a laugh, and that eased the minor tension for everyone at the table. 182 "So, here we are, my friends." Bard reached for his songbook. "We have 183 travelled a thousand worlds and seen sights from Zeb to giant ants to 184 bothersome rabbits. Yet it is back at the Inn that we encounter perhaps the 185 greatest mystery of the all. Excuse me." Bard got up from the table. "I 186 need some peace and quiet. I have an idea for a song, so if you will permit 187 me..." 188 "By all means." Cragmore feigned a royal bow. "We want to hear it the 189 second you are done." 190 "Yes, yes. The second." echoed Milchar. 191 As Bard walked back to the rear of the Inn, the front door opened just 192 long enough for a kilted figure to enter. 193 "Piper's here!" Cragmore said with subdued excitement. "I wonder what 194 tales of wonder and adventure he has to share. It has been sometime since we 195 saw him after that messy Lost Innkeeper incident." 196 "I suggest we ask him." Milchar said as he drained his concoction. "But 197 let's give him a chance to dry off and warm up a bit." 198 "Good idea. He looks like he could use a little warming." Cragmore said, 199 as he too finished the drinking work before him. 200 201 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsI CRAGMORE PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi 202 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 203 204 Ah, if our hooded visitor is who I think it is, indeed it has been 205 a long time. Welcome fair lady, you have been sorely missed. (And if 206 not, I'll retire to the hearth and attempt to remove my foot from my 207 mouth. 208 And I see the Piper has returned also. We are twice-blessed. 209 210 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Valinor *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 211 212 ____01/03/87__________________JD 2446799.5635_________17:31:35_PST_______ 213 hmmm... test 32767...... 214 To ALL......Hello, My name is John Chaplen and I am looking for a car, I am 215 look for a Honda Accord (76-80) LX, if you know of any such cars for sale 216 and that are in good condition please leave a message on Oswego Fido 217 (636-xxxx) under the name of John Chaplen......Thanks 218 219  220 ################################################################# 221 While the Innkeeper was looking at the ever confounding door 222 which was making much ado with the inn's patrons, he heard the 223 heavy oaken front door open followed by a cold gust of wind. 224 Turning about, he saw a weary traveler enter. His clothing soaked 225 to the skin. A tiny worl of leaves from rowan tree out front 226 followed him in as he entered. Some of them escaping outside 227 again as he closed the scared but sturdy door that so many had 228 entered thus in the past. 229 Stepping up to the bar, he upwrapped a small bundle of fur 230 that had found some small measure of comfort and warmth on his 231 shoulders. Placing the small creature on the bar, he looked 232 around, searching for someone. Then spying me with the woman who 233 had entered earlier, he smiled and said. "Ah, Innkeeper a drink 234 if you please, something to warm these cold bones, and perhaps a 235 nice warm bowl of milk for my friend here if you please." 236 "Excuse me for a moment won't you? Duty calls" I said to my 237 companion and went to service the needs of this well known 238 partron. Grabbing a warm blanket along the way, I handed it to 239 him saying "here friend sit yourself down in front of the fire. 240 Take my chair. Warm yourself while I get your drink." 241 Then picking up a small bundle of old bar rags, I picked up 242 his friend, and showed Piper to my chair. I placed the rags and 243 the small furry friend on top in a favored position in front of 244 the fire. As I leaned over to place the small kitten on the 245 cushion of cloth, the small gold locket slipped out of my shirt 246 catching the attention of the kitten who pawed at it, interested 247 in the flashes of light it reflected from the flickering fire. 248 "No my little friend, that isn't for you." 249 Seeing the locket brought back old memories of times past, I 250 didn't have to see the small twig of rowan that was held within, 251 that was a reminder given by another dear friend long absent. 252 Where she was no one knew. Though the months had dwindled 253 her existance to little more than a memory to most, they were 254 still warm memories. Particularly for an innkeeper who was proud 255 to be counted among her friends. With a deep sigh I tucked the 256 locket back in its place. "There now little one, warm yourself, 257 I'll be back in a moment..." 258 Moments later I was placing a warm bowl of milk on the 259 hearth, and a steamimg mug of ale in the hands of the Piper. 260 Moving back into the shadows, I grasped the hand of the shy woman 261 who had been waiting patiently through all of this. "Come," I 262 said, "let us hear what the Piper has to say of his adventures." 263 and guided her to a bench across from our visitor. 264 "So my friend, tell me what has happened to you since last 265 we met? How have you come to be here once again? No, no... Take 266 your time, warm yourself, take rest, speak when you have removed 267 the chill from your body." 268 "Thank you." was all the Piper could say through clenched 269 teeth as he wrapped the blanket closer about him, holding the 270 steaming mug in both hands in an effort to extract even the 271 little heat it offered to ease his shaking frame. 272 The inn quieted down, it seemed as if the noise had subsided 273 behind that damnable door and the light had dimmed a bit. Perhaps 274 it was just an imagined thing as Bard closed the curtain over the 275 apparition and he, Cragmore, and Milchar moved over to listen to 276 Piper's story. 277 ######################## The Innkeeper ########################## 278 1??????????????????????????????????????? 279 TOP 10 ICE CREAM FLAVORS FOR 1981 280 281 replace 282 1.Vanilla 35.1% 283 2.Chocolate 12.4% 284 3.Neopolitan 7.4% 285 4.Chocolate Chip 5.9% 286 5.Strawberry 5.6% 287 6.Vanilla Fudge 4.2% 288 7.Butter Pecan 2.7% 289 8.Cherry 2.5% 290 9.Butter Almond 1.6% 291 10.French Vanilla 1.4% 292 Other 21.2% 293 294 ???????????????????????????????????????? 295 exit 296 O\=<([V2V])>=/O 297 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 298 Have you ever noticed how sensitive damp skin becomes? Not the 299 "damp" that you get from a quick dash in the rain from the car to a house, 300 but the deep penetrating damp that comes from untold hours of being saturated 301 by unending rain. The deep, bone-chilling damp that causes the skin to 302 first swell, then lose its color, then seemingly to thin over exposed nerve 303 ends -- nerves that, were they not numb from the cold, would rake your 304 every move with raw agony. Under the heavy blanket the piper slid out of 305 his sodden shirt. Every nerve in his back and shoulders screamed with a 306 sensation that was almost pain at the rough warm touch of the heavy blanket. 307 The fire's warmth was sending curls of moisture up from the piper's muddy 308 shoes, echoing its own smoke in the swirls of white that curled and twisted 309 in the luminous air. Slowly the piper's shaking stilled and he began to 310 listen to more than the pound of his own heart. The normal buzz of 311 conversation in the room had died to a background murmur, the welcome silence 312 broken only by the occasional snap of the fire and a muted purr as the small 313 kitten lapped its milk from the bowl at the hearthside. 314 Looking around, the piper saw familiar faces -- old friends and companions 315 whith whom he had shared danger, challenge, and joy -- faces that looked 316 expectant, faces that seemed to ask of his travels since he had last stepped 317 into the inn. 318 "It has been a long time, old friends," the piper spoke. "A long time 319 and many weary miles since I could warm myself with the taste of mulled 320 ale, feel the warmth of the inn's fire and companionship." 321 A shadow seemed to pass across his face. 322 "My tale has not been of adventure, but endurance. I have been learning -- 323 learning the lessons of persistance. I left here, ghod knows how long ago, 324 searching for traces of Peg, determined not to let my impatience pull me 325 aside, and have been trudging down most of the back paths of the multiverse 326 since." 327 He paused and took a pull from the cooling mug. 328 "I have been following my path," he continued. "And I thank who or whatever 329 is the architect of this journey that I have returned to the inn, if only 330 for a brief moment or two. I have not achieved my goal. I still don't know 331 what happened to Peg, but I fear for her. The trail is cold, but passed 332 through this point in space and time. I can only follow and hope to cut 333 a newer trace, perhaps." 334 The piper sighed deeply. "And you, my friends, what has happened with 335 you since last we met?" 336 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 337 ***GREMLIN*** 338 Harvey and the two sheep were spotted on the mountain pass. The trek 339 had been long. Working for the CIA was not easy. 340 However, the basic concept of my theory, is not fully documented. 341 This lead to a major dimension change which in effect has totally 342 changed absolutely nothing. 343 Eclectic environments where quickly being phases in and out as 344 the progressions continued. Many theories were discarded and the 345 theory remained undocumented. Due to a change in circumstance beyond 346 the control of Violent Femmes, there will be no chocolate pudding 347 tonight. More and more symbiotic relationships were formed thru no 348 fault of mine. Still my theories remained undocumented. What more 349 proof was needed? How obvious must it be? 350 Three atoms of oxygen; ozone. It was being systematically 351 transformed into orbiting photo-plasms. But the proof you ask? 352 The proof remained undocumented. Harvey knew something. The hieghts 353 he scaled yielded the proof. But now he knew his chances of escape 354 where narrow. Where was he to go? To Elaine Purlaine's that's where. 355 Elaine Purlaine had been fostering plans of pineapple-upsidown-cake. 356 Now it seemed the change was to be completed. But who was the mastermind? 357 Was it the phantom of koopaloplax? 358 359 360 --------------------------------------------------------------- 361 The results of the "1987 Young Writers Fiction Contest" were 362 published in the Northwest section of the paper today. O 363 again none of the work of the Backwater writers made the 364 grade. At least you'd think one of the NET writers would be 365 represented. After all, aren't they supposed to be the elite 366 of Backwater? Or are they only the elite of their own imaginations? 367 368 Paperback writer 369 -------------------------------------------------------------- 370 371 Beauty is in you heart, 372 Let it out, let it beat 373 Give yourself a treat. 374 375 Good Sense is the master of human life. 376 Your work interests can capture the highest status or prestige. 377 378 The Fortune Cookie. 379 -------------------------------------------------------------- 380 Paperback writer: Ah, the NET writers were too busy defending the populace, 381 including ingrates like you, from denizens of evil to enter any writing 382 contests. So, who are you, some slighted insecure writer who must express 383 his or her frustrations by putting down others whom you have probably never 384 really met? 385 386 Disgustingly yours, 387 F. L. Baily, NET Legal Counsel 388 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 389 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT 390 UNNOTICINGLY WHILE THE CONVERSATION OF THE INN COMMENCED.. A STRAGLED STRAY 391 DOG WONDERED IN. ALTHOUGH SEEING THE FURRY BUNDLE LAPPING THE CREAM IT DID NOT/REPLACE 392 the kitten in doing so. The dog lumbered over to the the huge door studing its strange texture and size 393 and began to scratch at the door. 394 It soon gave up the scratching which was starting to bother some of the inhabitants of the inn. Bard and some of the others were395 intrigued by the dogs behavior. 396 The dog circled in front of the ominous door a couple of times and then la down in front of the threshold which still remained 397 closed. By close study of the dog could be seen a brown frayed collar with an attached piece of paper. May be a scrap picked 398 up off the street since it looked as if it was about to fall away. Or it may be a clue to the incidious door that lie behind the399 dog. A bit of scroll perhaps? Well only a few of the inhabitants of the inere intrigued by the dog and the door. 400 Could ther be a connection? 401 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT 402 {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} 403 no point. 404 no message. 405 no punchline. 406 no peanut butter and jelly. 407 please refrain from this sort 408 of behavior in the future. 409 thank you for your support. 410 {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} 411 exit 412 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 413 Why will Mikey tolerate this kind of 414 drivel but continue to delete any message 415 offering praise to the work of SKATER 416 DUDE or The True American. I don't under- 417 stand. We are obviously facing a new era 418 of censorship on Backwater but what is 419 the criteria for what we are not allowed 420 to read. Doug 421 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 422 Doug: While I don't know for sure just what was removed (other than that 423 ne of my markers was caught up in it), I can make a good guess. 424 "ASCII graphics" such as the skateboard and flag, are not and never have 425 been welcome! Doing it once or twice is one thing, but more than that is 426 asking for deletion. 427 Why? Because Backwater stores things in LINES not characters! Thus a line 428 consisting of just a carriage return takes up just as much room as a 126 429 character line. This is due to *hardware* not software, so please don't 430 tell us that it should be re-written. 431 The 'cute' graphics have wasted close to a quarter of the last few disks! 432 I can't blame Mikey for deciding to remove them. It's not as if they were 433 saying anything new! It has *always* been policy here to remove duplicate/ 434 repeated postings. 435 ____01/04/87__________Leonard_JD 2446800.6003_________18:24:36_PST_________ 436 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 437 It seems as though something important is going to happen. Psychic energy 438 has gone out from the Inn to a lot of the old patrons, myself included. I 439 returned after a two year absence, but felt a warmth to the place. Now many 440 of the more highly regarded of the inn are returning. Perhaps it is the door ? 441 I don't know, myself, but I am going to go back to my Sunday scroll. A 442 contest completed. Perhaps one or more of the winners was from here, using 443 another name in that hateful place, "reality". And tacked to the back of 444 the same scroll, a man learned in the ways of writing. His advice this day 445 should surely be required reading for some of the Inn's patrons of more 446 recent vintage. 447 The news finished, I turned to a riddle posed here at the Inn. Is 448 Neapolotin a flavor ? If it is, then should not 'Other' also be a flavor ? 449 And as a flavor, `Other' would move to second place. Well ? 450 "Welcome, old friends. I am glad to see all of you." 451 [][][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 452 O\=<([V2V])>=/O 453 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 454 The piper had stopped shivering. From the inn's kitchen the innkeeper 455 had produced a bowl of hot stew, thick with meat and vegetables. The piper 456 had gulped it down and strength was even now pouring through his limbs. 457 The kitten had long since finished its cream and, in the serious way cats 458 have, had carefully cleaned its paws and whiskers and was carefully grooming 459 its coat. It looked around the room, and with a quiet "mrroowt" flowed up 460 into the piper's lap. 461 Silence covered the little group around the fire. After some time the 462 piper spoke again. "Something is bothering all of you. Please tell me what 463 is wrong." 464 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 465 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 466 a dark figure entered the inn quietly. quickly he placed a notice on the 467 wall he hoped would be seen.... 468 ___________________ 469 Wanted: Employment. Perfer something a newly graduated programmer would 470 like. Any leads appreciated. Fast Fred. 471 ____________________ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 472 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * K * H * * * * * * * * 473 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * W * * * * * * * * 474 475 Tah dah! Glad to see some of the old faces are back. Now that this has 476 transpired, when do we start to read the stories that have made them old faces 477 478 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * K W H * * * * * 479 480 O\=<([V2V])>=/O 481 ----------------------------ME 482 HEY, ANYBODY KNOW IF RAINFOREST IS STILL UP????? I HAVENT BEEN 483 ABLE TO REACH IT. WHATS NEW(FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS) BEEN DOWN MESELF 484 FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS. THANX- 485 ME 486 ----------------------------ME 487 ____01/05/87__________________JD 2446801.5950_________18:16:49_PST_________ 488 *********************************************************************** 489 She watched quietly from the back of the room. Scraps of paper and a 490 ink pen were scattered on the table she kept alone. Recounting the 491 adventures of the past year, she had failed to project the energies of 492 the situations. Writers cramp is another good word for it. She smiled 493 as she watched old friends gather and glanced to the strange door. Her 494 imagination went wild considering the door. Wouldn't it just be a scream 495 if the door would suddenly blow inwards, sucking all of the patrons into 496 a new world? But the door just stood there, and the woman ordered yet 497 another ale. 498 ************************************kathyD********************************* 499 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 500 Milchar, the mage from Celene (many miles and realities from Innisfall), 501 quietly sat in his favorite corner of the common room of the Inn. His hand 502 moved in short, precise strokes to create the symbols upon the vellum sheet 503 before him; when asked what he was doing, he'd merely reply, "I'm scribbling 504 down some incantations for a friend of mine." 505 #You have a sensitive mind, Piper. Perhaps you sense our forebodings about 506 the brown door, now covered by cloth?# A mental gesture indicated to Piper 507 the direction of the door, and slowly, he turned to look at it. 508 #No one can determine much of anything about it. The answer is not written 509 upon my 3 x 5 cards, nor on Bard's instruments, nor in Cragmore's mind...# 510 Cragmore emitted a mental nod. Bard glared a little at his instruments, which 511 still showed nonsense readings in odd-looking symbols. Innkeeper just looked 512 tired. 513 #Since nothing can be done that has not already been tried, we have, for now, 514 resigned ourselves to watching it. Until it does something, or one of us 515 thinks of a way to pry from it its secrets. 516 But hold that for now. Enjoy the warmth of the hearth. Shake off the chill 517 and dry yourself... and have another ale!# 518 "Innkeeper? Fill Piper's mug with your best ale, and fill your own mug, as 519 well! To the Inn, and to the patrons who visit here!" 520 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++ January 6, 1987 at 1:12am +++++ 521 O\=<([V2V])>=/O 522 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi 523 524 Clang! And a dozen pairs of eyes went from gazing at table tops to the 525 curtains and the door behind. Clang! This time louder. A whisper of comments 526 shot through the Inn. The Innkeeper set down the glass he was holding thanks 527 to Milchar's generosity, and moved a step closer to the curtain. 528 "What is it?" "Did you hear that?" "Of course I heard! What could it be?" 529 Bard cursed as his instruments told him 'Plaster, timbers, and rock' Milchar 530 crumpled a piece of paper and teleported it towards the hearth. Cragmore 531 rubbed his temples to relieve the headache pain caused by psi-exhaustion. 532 Other Innhabitants displayed similar signs of stress and fatigue, as each, 533 in his or her own way, tried to discover the secret of the door. 534 Clang! The sound ringed again. Softer this third time. 535 Ten minutes of subdued conversation passed, and the door made no more 536 sounds. 537 "I guess we go back to waiting and wondering." Cragmore sighed, as 538 eyes returned to what they were looking at before the audible reminder of 539 the door and its secrets. 540 541 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsI CRAGMORE PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi 542 ____01/06/87__________________JD 2446802.6050_________18:31:16_PST_________ 543 Well... PLease continue! I am interested! 544 O\=<([V2V])>=/O 545 Yes! Do! I've always found the inn fascinating, and would like to see much more 546 of it. May I join, if I can find the time? 547 O\=<([V2V])>=/O 548 s 549 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 550 The piper felt Milchar's mental touch. It had been so long since he had 551 last communicated so! His mind wandered, rejected parts of the communication, 552 then accepted fragments. He heard "#xxxxxxxxxxxxxpiperxxxxxxforbodings 553 xxxxxxxxbrown doorxxxxcovered by cloth <>#" before his mind 554 suddenly cleared and the communication became clear -- particularly the 555 invitation to have another ale. 556 The combination of warmth, dryness, ale, and a curled up small cat on 557 one's lap is extremely soporific. If you add to this mental and physical 558 exhaustion and a stomach recently filled with the inn's beef stew (perhaps 559 one of the best kept secrets of the multiverse, you'll find very few 560 of the innhabitants who 561 who'll discuss it, considering 562 the limited quantity that comes out of the inn's kitchen) it's not too 563 surprising that the piper fell into a deep, almost comatose sleep. With 564 sleep come dreams -- some pleasant, and some less so. 565 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 566 USAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSA 567 568 HEY, SYSOP. YEA, YOU. WHY DO YOU OPERATE THIS SYSTEM?. 569 I HAVE NOTED SOME INTERESTING THINGS 570 ON IT. 571 572 ALSO, MAY I INQUIRE AS TO WHAT POLLITICAL 573 PARTY YOU AFFILIATE YOUR SELF WITH. 574 YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO KEEP IT QUIET 575 IF YOU WISH, BUT A PERSON THAT I KNOW 576 CALLED THIS BBS AND THINKS YOU AND 577 MOST OTHERS ON IT ARE COMMUNISTS. 578 579 I WILL REFRAIN FROM USE OF THE FLAG 580 ON YOUR SYSTEM AS IT TAKES TOO MUCH 581 MEMORY. BUT REMEMBER, IT IS STILL 582 THERE IN SPIRIT. 583 584 A TRUE AMERICAN 585 USAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSAUSA 586 to the above: 587 it's either that, or they're what is commonly called "leftist" 588 "liberal" or "radicals" - Jane Fonda, for instance. 589 Sebastiani 590 .............................................................................. 591 Me? Try "Non-political". Really, if you MUST use tags, apply the correct 592 ones! ...................................... 593 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 594 Dear F. L. Baily, NET Legal Counsel: Thanks for the laugh! The Net writers are 595 too busy with mental masturbation to do ANYTHING wothwhile, let alone defending 596 anybody. What a bunch of megalomaniacs. "Denizens of evil." HEHEHEHHEHEHE 597 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 598 ch/wothwile/worthwhile 599 ########################################################################### 600 While I was settling in, listening to and watching the patrons, a high 601 piched sound started to eminate from behind the curtain. Oh no, here we 602 go again, I thought. Then after a very short period of time the sound 603 changed changed. Now it sounded like a continuous and massive stream of 604 ball bearings in a multitude of sizes and shapes being spewed at the 605 metal door. The sound drowned out any possiblity of further speach, 606 and roused Piper enough to cause him to wince at the noise. The kitten 607 on his lap stired nervously, uncertain why this sound should be invading 608 its peacful rest. The other patrons looked on exasperated. Bard made as if 609 to approach the door with his instruments again, but then seemed to 610 think better of it and sat back down and started to rummage through his 611 pack instead. After a moment he came up with a pair of ear muffs which 612 he promptly put on. The noise continued on for a time until finally just 613 when everyone was certain that they would begin to lose their sanity if 614 they didn't get out of the Inn, the sound suddenly stopped, then a loud 615 click was heard followed by a buzzing sound as if a large swarm of bees 616 were hiding just behind the curtain. I've got to do something about this. 617 It's starting to get on my nerves and those of my patrons. While it is 618 nice that the novlety of the door has caused many patrons to take intrest 619 in events in the vicinity of the Inn, that interest won't hold long. 620 I've got to figure out what to do to change things either find out what 621 is behind that bloody door, or find some way to get rid of it before 622 it gets rid of me! Getting up, I went around the bar and into my own 623 quarters. Carefully closing the door behind me and locking it, I opened 624 a trap in the floor, pulled out a wooden box, then getting a pry bar, 625 I opened it. Inside was a covering of straw which I moved aside, and 626 a medium sized glass jar was exposed to my view. Pulling it out of its 627 well protected cushion I held it up to the light. The small dark red 628 ball was still there. - To be continued - 629 ######################### The Innkeeper ############################ TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629