1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask.... 2 ************************* INSTALLED: 28 APR 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 Eschew the implement of correction and vitiate the scion. 21 ******************************************* 22 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] 23 amazing. i made it to the top... say, mike... those little superparsed phrases 24 you put up are neat. where do you get these, anyhow? 25 also, does ANYBODY on this board know anything about fractal surfaces, 26 fractal geometry, fractals in general, cellular automata (graphics), the 27 mandelbrot set, etc.? 28 i have been wanting to get explainations & example code for a while now. 29 i also ghave a friend with a nice color graphics terminal & a *nix system 30 to run programs on, & those that own the system would no doubt be 31 anxious to get such code to make their terminal do flips. 32 jim michaels 231-xxxx 33 34 #126 on applephilia 35 ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] 36 ++++++++++++++++++ more Milchlurk +++++++++++++++++ 4/28/1987 ++++++++++++++ 37 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 38 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 39 and yet another lurker -- we are not alone. 40 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& the scarlet lion &&&&&&& 41 |:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:| 42 | | 43 | Starburst - I'm looking into the issue at the moment. | 44 | Do you have the same business hours as before? | 45 | Respond on system of your original query. | 46 | | 47 |:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:|:!:| verty |:!:| 48 49 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *) 50 Sorry about the stoopid blunder on the previous disk--I didn't think 51 the bottom was so close (obviously!). Here's the end portion of that 52 episode. 53 54 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *) 55 With one final glare at the man, T'Chree turned her complete 56 attention to the dancer. "I'm sorry, my dear," she began. "I think I 57 should begin again. That boorish man caused me to disclose 58 information which I was going to include, but further along in my 59 story." 60 The so-described boor merely said, "Humph," and returned to his 61 own table. Try to help out and what kind of thanks do you get, he 62 thought sourly. Princess Royal, la-de-dah. He noticed that his 63 friend the Philosopher was still looking a trifle bemused, and decided 64 to order another round of drinks. 65 The dancer, while being greatly relieved that the nosey man 66 finally left, had a new worry. Just who was this Princess T'Chree, 67 and what did she want with her? It was obvious that she would soon 68 find out. 69 70 Green Eyes (04/29/87) 71 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *) 72 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 73 "Humph", I said, more to myself than to anyone else, as I returned to 74 my table. Max was still slightly bemused, so I called the barkeep 75 over and oredered another round. 76 When he returned with the drinks, I asked him if he could tell Milchar 77 there appeared to be another dangerous adventure coming up, if he had 78 recovered from his trip to Erewhon. The barkeep took the message and 79 said he would tell Milchar. I thought to myself that while a simpleton 80 barkeep was not nosey, I certainly wished that the Innkeeper would return, 81 to keep us in drinks and food. 82 I sat back, and sipped my B&B. I wondered if this wierd "Princess" was 83 in any way connected with the brick I received on the head a short while 84 back. 85 "Probably quite related." 86 Max startled me with his statement. I keep forgetting that he reads people 87 as if they were books. 88 "Hmm. Then do you suppose that she could have had anything to do with 89 the dissappearance of the old hag?" I still shuddered at the "Princess's" 90 intimation, but I was concerned about any human life. And most non-human 91 forms, as well. 92 "There is definitely some connection between the old woman and the dancer, 93 like they were related or something. I'm not sure what it is." 94 "Maybe Milchar can tell us more about it." hoping that he would show up 95 in person soon. 96 [][][][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 97 98 ln 86 - cha/ p / people as if they were/ 99 michaels James: FLATTERY WOULDN'T GET YOU ANYWHERE::::::::::::::::: 100 ----------------========================>>>>>>>>>>T.R. 101 So, these people have a most fascinating form of entertainment. 102 And that fellow over their, he looks put out over something, but 103 the person beside him appears to be a man of learning, so... 104 I strolled over to the Philosopher and asked 'Pardon me sir, but you would 105 seem to be a scholar of sorts?' 106 -------------------========================>>>>>>>>>>T.R. 107 108 ########################################################################### 109 I was confused, I didn't understand why the door would not open. It was 110 free of obstruction, there was nothing to prevent it from doing so, there 111 was no lock, yet still it remained solidly shut. I reached out and tapped 112 it lightly with my knuckles. It echoed loudly..."blam"..."blam"..."blam"... 113 even though I had struck it only lightly. As I thought about it, it echoed 114 again...blam...blam...blam...yet I had not touched it! I rapped on it 115 again, and almost immediately it was repeated. Someone was on the 116 otherside! I reached out tenatively..."hello?..." 117 "At last! We've found you!" The voice shouted in my mind. 118 I was dazed and confused at first, but then I placed the voice, "Cragmore!" 119 and there behind him Milchar, and Bard. Even Voyeur looked in from the side 120 though he seemed a bit more pale and weak than when last I has seen him. 121 But how could I see him? Then I realized that Milchar was holding one of 122 his 3x5 cards and moving his hands about wildly speaking strange and 123 unknowable words. The small circle of visiblity grew and shrank as he moved 124 his hands. It was then that I realized that Bard was attaching some piece 125 of equipment to the door. "Cragmore, how did you find the way through?" I 126 asked. 127 "We heard you knocking on the door, and I reached out towards you. Milchar 128 cleared the way with a window spell from one of his cards, and Bard is 129 useing some sort of gadget to resonate the door at just the right frequency 130 to let it all through." 131 "Well, we had better not be too long at this, I can tell by the look on 132 Milchar's face that this is a great strain on his energy reserves. What is 133 it that you propse that we do?" 134 "We've got to get you through somehow, either find a way to open the door, 135 or a way to slip you through it unopened." 136 "That seems rather obvious! But, I don't know what will happen should we 137 open the door, this universe is entirely different than the one of the Inn. 138 I don't know what would happen should the two meet." 139 "Well, I'm sure we will figure something o...." 140 As Cragmore was speaking, the opening through which we spoke began to 141 shrink, and I could see just before it closed that Milchar had slumped 142 into a formless pile on the floor. The others turned around as the ever 143 watchful Voyeur shouted "Milc...." just as the opening closed completely. 144 ########################### The InnKeeper ################################# 145 ____04/29/87__________________JD 2446915.6291_________20:06:00_PDT_________ 146 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx 147 Gildor didn't like interruptions. In the course of the last half 148 hour, all there had been were interruptions. Gildor was trying very 149 150 hard to keep the mage's attention, with very little luck. First that 151 abomnible dancer and her noisy tamborine, punctuated by a few clinks of 152 coins tossed in her direction. Chanting loudly an emotion-drawing song 153 to get more notice! "Argh!" thought Gildor. "Not now!" He usually 154 appreciated such displays, but was in no mood at this time. His mood 155 grew worse as Milchar's attention was drawn more and more to the spell- 156 binding dancer. 157 When the dancer was finally through, Gildor thought he could regain 158 the mage's interest. He started in again upon the need for a mage in his 159 quest, but to no avail. Someone named Cragmore had thrown aside a set of 160 curtains to reveal a glowing door. That drew everyone's eyes, and Milchar 161 was immediately up and casting spells on the door. Cragmore, Milchar and 162 two others were right up on the door, all concentrating hard. That's when 163 Mel woke up and all hell broke loose. 164 with all the psi energy in the air, Mel, the skittish little fire-lizard 165 decided to throw a fit. Not a normal hissy fit where he just disappears 166 in 'between' for a while. No. This time he had to go off the handle, flying 167 crazily around the common room of the Inn, clawing people's hats, spilling their 168 mugs, and tipping wooden plates everywhere. Gildor swore loudly, and tried to 169 calm his friend, to little avail. Soon the Bartender was giving such a look 170 that Gildor knew that he better get Mel (and himself) out before they were 171 forcibly removed. 172 Then it happened. The gentlemen at the glowing door had no idea what 173 was happening behind them until the last minute. Mel, in his ignorant fit, 174 flew smack into the mage at full speed. The window into the door disappeared 175 as the mage hit the ground. 176 Gildor and his pal Mel had done it again. 177 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx 178 ch /with/With/ 179 Sorry for all the commotion... 180 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx 181 :::::=====:::::===== 182 Innkeeper: After dutiful work, I hope that my work has improved somewhat. 183 Is this so, or am I wrong? 184 :::::=====:::::===== 185 All: If you would have him, and it would not interfere with any of the 186 pre-ordained plot lines for the story, perhaps Zephyr could lend a hand. If 187 he really exerted himself, perhaps he could Focus & Magnify one of youv 188 rather unique abilities enough so that you could get a message through or 189 perhaps make some sort of contact? I will await comment before responding 190 or acting in the story, so as not to upset the delicate balance I know is so 191 very important in such works. 192 :::::=====:::::===== 193 With great interest, Zephyr noted the commotion going on. Whereas before 194 he would have had no way to communicate with the assorted parties involved, he 195 soon remembered that now, being human, he was fully able to speak. 196 He coughed, cleared his throat, and whispered. "Perhaps I might be of 197 some assistance?" 198 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::===== 199 AFTER A FEW HOURS WALKING CLOUDS BEGAN TO FORM AND THE TEMPERATURE QUICKLY 200 FELL.GATHERING HIS WEATHER BEATEN CLOAK AROUND HIM AND DRAWING THE HOOD 201 AROUND HIS HEAD HE CONTINUED TRAVELING TOWARDS THE VILLAGE.HE MADE EXCELLENT 202 TIME AS HE TRAVELED THROUGH THE NIGHT AND BY DAWN THE FOLLOWING DAY HE WAS 203 WITHIN SIGHT OF THE VILLAGE.HE STOPPED FOR A REST BESIDE A SMALL BROOK AND 204 RELAXED IN THE MORNING SUN.THIS EVENING HE WOULD ENTER THE VILLAGE AND GO 205 TO THE INN,SEARCHING FOR A BEING NAMED TREVOR WHITE. 206 207 ***********************************04-30-87**0027hrs***CLETUS****************** 208 209 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 210 "OH-h-h-h-h, that." Hammond felt relieved. Here, at least, he was on 211 familiar ground. "This is EXCACTLY the sort of project the Hammond 212 Armour investment council adores. It gives them modernization and 213 capital and will be profitable for us. What could possibly be wrong 214 with it?" 215 "Nothing wrong with the sentiment," replied Margot, "but it's not 216 clear that the Albanians want modernization and the word "capital" 217 is an obscenity there." 218 "Look, Margot, I've dealt with communists, socialists, and religious 219 fanatics of all stripes and not one of them has turned their back on 220 cash. They might not like the WORD "capital", but they love the 221 green stuff." 222 Margot stretched deliciously. "Guess who's been to Albania and lives 223 right in this house?" Hammond ran mentally through the assortment of 224 musicians, artists, nerds, and dreamers. "Tyler Dalton on some kind 225 of drug run, I guess." 226 Margo laughed. "Good guess, but not even close. Come on. I'll show 227 you." Hamm followed her blond curls as they bounced up to the third 228 floor. They paused in front of a finely crafted wooden door with a 229 dark scratched surface. 230 "Maggie! Of course," smiled Hamm. His knock was answered by a stocky 231 woman barely five feet tall with short resolutely uncurled gray hair 232 and wide milky blue eyes. Maggie was in her eighties, lived on a 233 small pension, and wrote poetry. Like many good poets, she dealt in 234 dreams and fantasy in her work, but turned a relentlessy realistic 235 eye on the daily world. Hamm regarded her as a litmus test for bal- 236 derdash and like to run new ideas past her. 237 "Well, what do you think of starting a car factory in Albania?" he 238 asked gamely as she tottered about making tea. The kitchen had a 239 gorgeous view through the end of a gable, so Maggie had moved her bed 240 and desk into it and piled everything else in the living room. Margot 241 perched on the bed while Hamm lounged on the bed. 242 Maggie snorted. "Sort of like the Yugo, eh? I understand it looks 243 like a Fiat made in the dark. If you make them in Albania, they pro- 244 bably will be. The whole country's lit by a 40-watt bulb." 245 "When were you there, Maggie? Were you with your husband?" Hamm asked. 246 "Well, my husband was Yugoslavian, you know. We took our summers in 247 Albania until the Italians took over in '39. It's got a fine coast- 248 line, you know. Right next to Greece. Warm water, sandy beaches, and 249 at that time the people were mostly Moslems so the culture was inter- 250 esting to me." Maggie glowed as she spoke, but abruptly collected 251 herself. "Now of course it's just a mean-spirited place. Hoxha put 252 the death grip on it. Maybe he figured the only way to keep it from 253 being overrun every few years was to make it so ugly and poor nobody'd 254 want it. Seems to have worked." 255 Hamm considered all this. "But Hoxha's dead now. Being undervalued 256 is what makes it a good deal. There's no reason why it can't prosper, 257 even under communism." 258 Margot shook her head. "It's not politics. It's more like Maggie 259 says, mean-spiritedness. Even with Hoxha dead, and no ties to the 260 Soviets, they keep up this stifling atmosphere. No news comes in or 261 out, no consumer goods made, constant surveillance against the citi- 262 zens, and seemingly no desire to change. That's why I sent you that 263 censored article. That was a FAVORABLE write-up of the government 264 and it was still sliced to bits." 265 -------------LATER---- 266 Hammond Armour chewed on all this information as he rode back to the 267 office. There had to be a way. He ran up the back stairs and burst 268 into his private quarters. A small elegant man with silver hair and 269 a sweeping silver moustache sat on his bed. He wore a format black 270 suit with a red rose in the lapel. 271 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 272 ch /format/ /formal/ 273 -+- 273 -+- 629 -+- 04/30/87 06:12 274 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 275 Seeing that Milchar was in good hands, and was much too busy 276 getting our Innkeeper back to be interested in a possible 277 abduction, I went out into the night. Maybe some investigation 278 of the pond would reveal some clue. 279 [][][][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 280 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 281 Distractions, distractions! The Inn had become busy during my absence, and 282 things easily piled one atop the other. First this "Gildor" person asks him 283 about the most dangerous dungeons in seven realities. Next came the much 284 more interesting distraction of a raggedly-clad dancer. Friar tried to get 285 my attention (I saw him in the corner of my eye, waving), and as I turned to 286 speak, a great blast of psi-energy washed over me. 287 Cragmore was at the door, his sensitiviy turned up to levels dangerous and 288 painful with this many thinking beings about. His power was such that I could 289 not avoid hearing the faint voice to which he had responded. The Innkeeper's. 290 I leapt up and sprinted for the door, ducking beneath a medium-sized flying 291 lizard who obviously was suffering from the rapid flow of energies. 292 At Cragmore and Bard's side, I more easily caught the tendril of thought. This 293 time I grasped it, and held on, fumbling for my pack of 3x5 cards. 294 A bright yellow one caught my attention, and reading the subtle interplay of 295 runes created a bright, burning silvery point which rapidly expanded into a 296 perfectly regular silver rectangle that gave us a view of chaos. 297 Bard rapidly pressed small squares on his apparatus, and the view grew firmer; 298 my energies were not as great as usual and without my wand my magicks suffered 299 somewhat. I channeled more of what I had within into maintaining the silver 300 window, while others talked; I could not spare the attention. 301 Exerting myself thus took its toll, much sooner than it should have. I 302 felt faint- 303 Something hit me from behind. 304 +++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++++++ April 30, 1987 at 1:17pm 305 ____04/30/87__________________JD 2446916.6109_________19:39:50_PDT_________ 306 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 307 Hamm: Excellent research. M.W. 308 _________________________________________________________________________ 309 THE EVENING BREEZE HAD PICKED UP AS HE APPROACHED THR LARGE STONE 310 BUILDING THAT CONTAINED THE INN.THE VARIOUS MOUNTS TETHERED NEAR THE 311 ENTRANCE WERE ACTING VERY SKITISH.APPARENTLY DUE TO THE PRESENSE OF 312 A STRANGE METALLIC DEVICE THAT WAS SHARING THE TETHER BAR. TENATIVLY 313 HE MOUNTED THE STEPS THAT LED TO THE DOOR OF THE INN.HE SILENTLY 314 GAVE A PRAYER TO ERAN THE FORGER,HOPING THAT THIS TREVOR PERSON WOULD 315 HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO HELP THE GUILD FIND THE CURE TO THE ILLNESS 316 THAT HAD ALLREADY DEVESTATED THREE TOWNSHIPS BY THE TIME HE HAD LEFT. 317 318 *******************************05-01-87***0030hrs***CLETUS*********** 319 AS HE ENTERED THE INN HE WAS SLIGHTLY TAKEN ABACK BUY THE AMOUNT 320 OF PEOPLE PRESENT AND THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY.AFTER A MOMENTS PAUSE,HE 321 MADE HIS WAY TO A SMALL BOOTH AND SAT DOWN WITH HIS BACK TO THE WALL, 322 SOMETING DONE NOW BY INSTINCT,RATHER THAN BY CONSCIOUS THOUGHT,A 323 LESSON WELL LEARNED THROUGH TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE.ORDERING A DRINK 324 HE LEANED BACK AND OBSERVED THE ACTIONS OF THE PATRONS.THERE WAS A 325 QUITE INDIVIDUAL MUTTERING TO HIMSELF AT ANOTHER TABLE.A PROVOCITIVE 326 LOOKING LADY WITH A TAMBORINE STANDING NEXT TO LADY THAT HELD HERSELF 327 WITH A ROYAL ALOOFNESS(PROBABLY ROYALTY)AND A STRANGE DARK HAIRED 328 PERSON WANDERING AROUND MURMURING ABOUT ROOM 7-17 OR SOMETHING. 329 TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AND THE STUNNING DANCER,DANTHORN NOTICED THE 330 STRANGE LOOKING FELINE BEING STANDING NEXT TO A TABLE OCCUPIED BY TWO 331 INDIVIDUALS.WITH A CLOSER LOOK,HE REALIZED,THAT THIS MUST BE THE 332 TREVOR WHITE HE HAD BEEN SENT TO LOCATE.FINALLY,SUCCESS AT LAST.NOW 333 ALL DANTHORN NEEDED TO DO IS TO CONVINCE HIM TO RETURN TO THE FREE- 334 HOLDS TO THE NORTHWEST WITH HIM. 335 DANTHORN THOUGHT IT RATHERS STRANGE THAT THE WARDEN GUILDMASTER 336 HAD BEEN SURE THAT HE WOULD FIND THIS BEING HERE AT THIS TIME.BUT 337 THAN AGAIN OLD SAUDO SEEMED TO KNOW MANY SECRETS OF THE GREAT TRAVELS 338 AND THOSE WHO SUCCEED IN THE CROSS OVERS OF THE BOUNDRIES.THIS BEING 339 THE PRIMARY REASON OF EXISTENCE OF THE WARDENS GUILD. 340 REMOVING THE HOOD AND LOSENING HIS CLOAK DATHORN SLOWLY RELAXED 341 AND WAITED FOR MASTER WHITE TO COMPLETE HIS BUSINESS WITH THE OTHERS 342 .TAKING THE TIME TO CLOSELY OBSERVE MEASURE THIS STRANGE BEING. 343 *******************************************05-01-87***0427hrs*CLETUS* 344 OFF 345 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi 346 347 "Get that damned lizard out of here!" Cragmore screamed into the 348 owner's brain. "We have lost our portal through this door because of your 349 idiocy." The lizard-man stared blankly as he heard the voice without a 350 source echo in his head. 351 "Huh?" he said, still unsure of whether the voice was due to drink 352 or dementia. 353 "You heard me. Now take that creature, and it's frenzied antics, and 354 try not to miss the door on your way out." Cragmore turned to the others. 355 Milchar still lay on the floor. Bard and voyeur kneeled beside the mage, 356 trying to wake him up with gentle slaps on the cheeks. "For six months 357 we have tried to figure out this door. Then the innkeeper dissapears. Now 358 we know where. So close!" Cragmore pounded the door. It responded with a 359 dull thud. The clear wrapping the covered the door stuck to Cragmore's 360 hand. "Ugg. This stuff feels like cold meat." He tried to pull his hand 361 away. The wrapping held firm. He pulled harder. The covering gave half- 362 an-inch, but would budge no more. "Gentlemen" Gragmore addressed his two 363 conscious friends, "I think I may need a little help here." 364 Bard looked up from his bar-room first aid. A smile crossed his broad 365 face as he saw Cragmore's predicament. "Get a little stuck there, old 366 Crag?" 367 "Enough joking. Can you help me?" Cragmore pulled vainly, but his hand 368 stuck, the fist still clenched in anger at opportunity missed. 369 "Voyeur, take a look at this." Bard tapped the other man on the 370 shoulder. "This super-celophane seems to have taking a strong liking to the 371 local mind-reader." 372 "All we need." Voyeur replied. "An unconscious mage and a trapped psi- 373 specialist. Care to make a guess on the next calamity?" 374 As Voyeur finished his sentence, a bright light appeared all around the 375 edges of the door, and a low, loud hum seemed to eminate from behind it. 376 Everyone in the inn paused what they were doing, as the hum became 377 louder. 378 "Oh shi..." Cragmore's words were drowned out by the sound from behind 379 the door. 380 381 PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSi CRAGMORE PsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpSiPsIpS 382 383 DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE KERMIT FOR 384 THE COMMODORE C64? IF YOU DO PLEASE 385 LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR DAVE HERE PLEASE 386 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 387 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 388 rough draft off-line -- lurking on-line. so what's new? 389 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& the scarlet lion &&&&&&& 390 391 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *) 392 Finally feeling sated, the Dancer leaned back from the table and 393 took a deep breath, at least as deep as possible considering her full 394 stomach. "My humble thanks, Lady," she said to her companion. "I 395 hadn't realized quite how long I had gone without food." I do 396 remember eating a mouse yesterday morning, she thought ruefully. Fine 397 for a cat but not too sustaining for a human. "Now you said something 398 about telling me a story. Is this 'story' as in lore or 'story' as in 399 life?" 400 The Princess smiled briefly at the dancer's question. "It is a 401 combination of both," she replied. "There are parts which are 402 conjecture, based possibly but not provably on scientific fact, and 403 parts which are recorded history, which is only as accurate and 404 unbiased as the person writing it." 405 "In other words, I should take it with 'a grain of salt,' as the 406 saying goes." the dancer asked. 407 "Precisely," said the Princess. "However, there are some 408 essential facts which you must believe to be true, or otherwise there 409 is no point in continuing our conversation." 410 "Well, I'll try to keep an open mind about it," the dancer 411 assured her. "But if there is something that seems too far-fetched, I 412 may ask for clarification." 413 "That's fair enough," said T'Chree. She refilled both her cup 414 and that of the dancer, and began her tale. 415 "My people, as a humanoid-appearing race, are very young in terms 416 of galactic history, younger still if you think in intergalactic 417 terms. However, the life forms from which we evolved were quite old. 418 Our ancestors most closely resembled the creatures many call birds." 419 "Our historians and the researchers of antiquity believe that a 420 prolonged exposure to high levels of radiation were the cause of the 421 change in our physical structure. They enlisted the aid and 422 historical resources of an older race long known for scientific study 423 to find out about any disturbances in our and neighboring solar 424 systems which might have been the source of this radiation. They have 425 found, in very old records, mention of a cataclysmic collision of 426 immense proportions in a galaxy not too far distant from ours. And it 427 is highly probably that dense clouds of radiation drifted through our 428 solar system. There is no way of concretely proving that this was 429 what happened to cause the change in our people, but it is as good an 430 explanation as any," she said pragmatically. 431 "Whatever was the cause of change is not really important. What 432 is vital is that we remain a culturally individual race." The 433 Princess paused a moment to drink from her glass. 434 The intensity of her feeling on that point is clearly evident 435 from her voice, the dancer thought. This just might be my ticket out 436 of here, I had better be nice. "I don't understand," she said, 437 surprising herself by actually being interested in the Princess' 438 story. "How is it that you are losing your racial identity? The 439 universe is pretty big and varied." 440 Before answering the dancer's question, T'Chree emptied the wine 441 jug into their glasses and signaled the barkeep to bring another. 442 When she was sure that he understood her message she resumed her tale. 443 "Our cultural development, while it is rather recent, has been 444 greatly speeded by association with other, more advanced races. There 445 are only a few elements of our current existence which can be traced 446 back to an earlier time. But these form the very backbone of our 447 "racial identity" as you call it. It is very important to the older 448 generations of our people, that these elements not be lost." 449 "O.K. I follow you so far," replied the dancer. "But where do I 450 come in? I mean, you didn't feed me just to have somebody to talk to, 451 right?" 452 "Very right," the Princess told her, fully smiling for the first 453 time. "When I saw you dance, and felt the things which you evoked-- 454 even though I have never been a slave or lost my freedom--I knew that 455 I had found the answer to our problem. You and your dance. Would you 456 consider working for the Kingdom of Aviana, learning about the 457 cultural heritage of our people, and then teaching what you have 458 learned to the young people of our land through your dance?" 459 Wow! Transportation and a meal ticket all in one! The dancer 460 was jubilant. Don't look too eager, she cautioned herself, she hasn't 461 mentioned money yet. "I am interested in what you are proposing," she 462 said casually to T'Chree. "However, there was nothing mentioned about 463 recompense. I don't want to appear greed, but I do need to earn a 464 living." 465 "Of course," replied T'Chree. "The King has given me a free rein 466 on expenses, so perhaps you would like to name your price?" 467 "With pleasure," said the dancer. 468 469 Green Eyes (05/01/87) 470 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *) 471 Hooray, hooray the First of May, 472 outdoor ...................................... 473 (* IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIX (*) IXVIIIVIIVIVIVIIIIII *) 474 outdoors into the rain..... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 475 :::::=====:::::===== 476 Innkeeper: Unfortunately, I cannot Focus or Magnify your knock into some 477 devastating blow,, so that you could break down the door, but perhaps there 478 are some among the group that would have more suitable and more easily 479 Focused abilities? 480 :::::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::==Zephyr::=====:::::=====:::::=====:::::===== 481 ____05/01/87__________________JD 2446917.6935_________21:38:38_PDT_________ 482 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV 483 Just a brief log-on to mention that according to my calendar of any and 484 all holidays, today, May 2, is Rowan Tree day! Hats off to that 485 noble plant. ^^^^^^^^^^hlurk 486 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^more adventure stuff anon.^^^^^ 487 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 488 Five nights running she dreamed of how she had seen the cat lying dead on 489 on the sidewalk, legs akimbo, pale fur matted with blood. The first morning 490 she woke up in a sweat and ran for the bathroom. But as the dream came 491 again she found herself growing dispassionate, distant: it no longer 492 had anything to do with her. But in the afternoons, with her feet up 493 on the couch and her work shoes tumbled on the floor, a mug of something 494 in her hand, she caught herself looking around as if expecting the cat 495 to wander in, arrogant and sleek. 496 And she remembered how it had amused her to see it on the front porch 497 next to the 'for sale' sign when she had come with the realtor. 498 "Does the cat come with the house?" she'd asked. Mrs. McGrier, 499 in her dry way, answered, "You'll have to ask the beast yourself." 500 She had meant to, when she saw it again, but someone had killed it. A 501 car, she supposed. It had the look. And she caught herself thinking 502 about it again and slammed her files together, standing up from the desk 503 in her office and catching her nylons on the edge. "Damn," she muttered, 504 glancing down. "Another run." 505 Shelley, the cheerful blonde receptionist, offered her nail polish. Kate 506 said, "Thanks, but this pair's shot. I'll run down to the Quick-shop at 507 break." 508 "Go now," Shelley suggested. "It's slow, and Mr. Brant won't be 509 back for an hour." "I will," Kate decided. "Will you tag these for him?" 510 "Sure. Could you pick me up a candy bar?" 511 With Shelley's fifty cents in hand, Kate ducked back into her office for 512 her purse. The Quick-shop was only a block away. She hurried, wishing she 513 had thought to bring her sweater. 514 The nylons and candy bar were bagged, paid for; she was turning to go when 515 she saw the two children, a boy and a girl, lugging a carton between them. 516 "Free kittens," the boy said, catching her eye. "Real pretty ones--" 517 On impulse Kate looked into the carton. "They look too young," she said. 518 "They're weaned," the girl added earnestly. Four bundles of fur and meow 519 lifted yellow-gold-green eyes to Kate. "I'll take one," she said. "The 520 speckled one." 521 "That's a girl," the boy said. Kate pulled out a dollar. "Here. I hope 522 you find homes for the rest of them." "Thank you," both children said. 523 Kate regarded the kitten dubiously. "How am I going to get you home?" 524 The woman behind the counter said, "I have a box, and a bit of rag. 525 Those kids are in every year with kittens." "Thanks," Kate said. "I 526 suppose I should get cat food. I've never had a pet." The kitten was 527 warm and squirming in her hands. She set it into the offered box. 528 Ten minutes later she was struggling with the box and two sacks and an 529 elevator button. "Here, let me," a male voice said. He sounded amused. 530 "That's a woman for you. Five minutes on a break to pick up nylons and 531 she comes back with a week's groceries." 532 Kate flushed. "It isn't groceries. It's a kitten." 533 "All that?" They stepped into the elevator. He raised a dark eyebrow. 534 "Yes," Kate said firmly. Just then the kitten made a lunge against the side 535 of his box, it slipped, she dropped everything else. Her benefactor picked 536 up the sacks, smiling. Kate saw the nylons sticking out and started 537 laughing. "Well--" 538 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%Centhirae%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 539 540 ^(*(#+^(+#$*(#^*+@_%_@#+%(@#%|@%(*+_!_*@%_*@_%_@#(%|@#(%+@__%(@*%@+_*!+%__(%+ 541 Any word from Dovestriev@kremvax? 542 _)(#_%*%_!)*$_!)#~_%*_#_!))$*!_))* L'homme sans Parity (%_()%_*_)@$*(@@@$!_(% 543 ____05/03/87__________________JD 2446919.5909_________19:10:53_PDT_________ 544 1. The post-AGE - Who even thinks to ask anymore - what becomes of the 545 work of art in the world of mass production? No: WHAT CAN ART WORK TO GIVE the 546 world of mass production? What resuscitation? What tricks? What cunning? These 547 are the questions... 548 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~05~04~87~~17~25~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 549 ::::::O O::::::::::05/04/87::::::::::voyeur::::::::::17:46:05::::::::::O O:::::: 550 ____05/04/87__________________JD 2446920.6124_________19:41:58_PDT_________ 551 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 552 This thing is still here? -aa 553 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 554 Yeah, well it's one of those "There isn't enough room to post my 555 entry" situations. 556 557 ----------- 558 Good Grief! How long is your entry? There's 74 lines left! 559 560 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 561 There certainly are a lot of lines left, 562 I figure about 71 lines left actually.] 563 Or rather about 67 left with this line.... 564 Gad, I haven't seen lines left on this disk 565 in ages! Mikey must be getting tired of 566 seeing the disk not moving so changed it 567 anyway. I wonder if this thing will "go away" 568 before it even gets full? 569 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 570 571 Well, that depends on whether disk A fills quickly or not, and 572 whether anyone else ebters anything here to fill it up before 573 Drive A gets full and Mikey moves the disk over to here thus 574 moving this disk into the dusty and never to be seen again 575 archives. 576 577 mememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememememem 578 Hello anyone out there? hello? oh well..... 579 580 hey, only 50 lines left! 581 582 No it's not, there are only 48 left by my count! 583 584 who says... I count it as 46.... 585 586 ................................................................... 587 588 en 589 ummmm, I count 40 myself...... 590 39 591 38 592 37! 593 WHO CARES? 594 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 595 I thought the back page of BWMS might be a good place to look 596 upon the fate of the now defunct Hart for President organization. 597 A question - Has anyone thought that the fall of Gary Hart looked 598 rather contrived? Here is a man who has every appearance of 599 being intelligent, yet he says to go ahead and follow me, as 600 **You will find it extremely dull** (Emphasis mine.) Now 601 saying that to reporters is rather like saying "Sic'em" to a 602 dog, is it not? And then he does something that he knows could 603 be easily misconstrued. 604 Maybe he wanted out? Maybe he really never wanted to run for 605 President, but the party made him do it? I don't know, but 606 does the theory have any merit? 607 Let me know what you think, those of you who frequent the back 608 page of Back waters. 609 [][][][][][][][][][][] Friar [][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 610 look, only 20 lines left 611 no 19 612 no, it's 18 613 .... 614 Well, it looks like this is the place to be when da fills up. +Gary+ TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 614