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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
2 ************************* INSTALLED: 24 DEC 84 ******************
3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator
4 ************************************************************
5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION
6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM.
7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned
8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public.
9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is
10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which
11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be
12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved)
13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the
14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the
15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace
16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up.
17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
18 ************************************************************
19
20 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
21 My, my, my! I haven't been able to get in in a couple of days and here I
22 am **AT THE TOP!! YAHOOOoooUUuuu***
23 (Is that sufficient celebration??)
24 ppppppppppppppppppppp
25 Colors wound round the piper and the pegasus. A slight chill brought goose
26 bumps to his naked shoulders (it seemed eternities since he had abandoned his
27 blood-soaked shirt). A broad band of blood was slowly oozing down his right
28 side, coming out through his unbroken skin in a pattern matching the oozing
29 slashes on the pegasus' side. The winged catlike carnivore was revolving,
30 weightless, on its own axis, the piper and the pegasus revolving slowly, linked
31 together by the piper's arms about the pegasus' neck. In one hand, the piper
32 cluutched a pole, about three inches in diameter near the wad of roots and
33 dirt where it had been torn from the earth, and tapering to about two inches
34 where it had long ago been broken into jagged splinters. The piper was aware
35 of the soft skin of the pegasus against his chest and arms -- soft as silk
36 in the direction the hairs lay, sharp and prickly against the grain. Her
37 heart beat strong and steady -- he knew that she had lost much blood, and with
38 it strength -- her sweat coated his skin with froth and brought added chill.
39 He gave very little thought to this, however. His eyes were tight on the
40 slowly revolving carnivore, stunned by that desperate blow of her hooves.
41 He knew that if the winged cat was not discouraged by that last setback, his
42 life as well as the pegasus' would be caught in the ensuing struggle.
43 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
44 >>------------------------------------------------------------------------<<
45
46 Merry Christmas to all the patrons of this fair Inn.
47 And a very happy and peaceful New Year.
48
49 >>------------------------< Brendan >-------------------------------------<<
50
51 +-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+
52 The continuing saga of Tarn reminded me of a story I had heard a
53 long time ago, after much searching I finaly found it, it is an old
54 English tale. The author has long since been forgotten;
55 It was winter, and a solitary man wandered the hills, his gait
56 shambling and slow. Once he had been comely, but now his bones stretched
57 the pale skin of his face, and his eyes were sunk in shadows. The man
58 had been brought to this pass by an encounter during the spring.
59 The land was blooming then. The meadows were carpeted with primrose
60 and heartsease, and the air was laden with the sent of lavender.
61 One bright morning, he set out for the Inn. He rode briskly at
62 first, but the country roads were warm and quiet, save for the
63 blackbird's song and the echoing notes of the cuckoo. Soon the man's
64 horse slowed to a walk. The man rode on drowsily dreaming.
65 After some time, his reverie was broken by a fluttering movement
66 near an oak beside the road. He spoke, but no one replied. Curious, he
67 dismounted and strode to the tree.
68 "Come out," he said. A trill of laughter was the only reply. "Come
69 out," he called again. A woman stepped lightly into the road and stood
70 before him. She seemed clothed with the dawn, for her clothes were the
71 color of rose petals, and she was crowned with a cascade of fiery hair.
72 She met the man's gaze with green cats eyes as shy as any forest
73 creature's, and in that instant the man was lost.
74 Without speaking a word, he held out his arms to the woman. She
75 came quite willingly, it seemed, and he lifted her to the saddle of his
76 horse. In a language he could not understand, she wispered to the
77 animal, which turned obediently from the road and, with the man walking
78 alongside, threaded its way through the trees and into the sunny meadows
79 that lay beyond.
80 They traveled thus for hours, now in a field and now in a shady
81 forest. From time to time, the lady spoke softly. The man picked
82 wildflowers for her, and with nimble fingers, she fashioned them into
83 garlands for her blazing hair.
84 When the sun stood high in the heavens, she began to sing, weaving a
85 net of melodies around the man who walked beside her. She leaned from
86 the saddle and peered into his eyes with a look of such absorbing
87 tenderness that he could not speak for longing.
88 At last, when the afternoon was well advanced, the lady spoke a word
89 in her strange tongue, and the horse halted in a small elder copse. The
90 man lifted her from the saddle and looked again into her face. He saw
91 inexpressible sadness. Tears glistened in the green eyes and glittered
92 on the lashes. The man kissed the woman then, but she drew herself from
93 his arms and once more began to sing.
94 Light as the morning mist, the voice coiled around him, and his eyes
95 grew heavy. He swayed and sank to the ground. He saw for a moment the
96 rosy clothes of the lady and her bright red hair, swinging as she bent to
97 watch him. Above her head the canopy of leaves wheeled. He closed his
98 eyes.
99 As he slept, he dreamed of darkness. He saw a line of men haggard
100 and gray in death. Their gray lips were split over gaping black mouths,
101 and shadows filled their empty eye sockets. The lips moved, and he
102 realized that the ghostly figures were calling his name. Their bony
103 fingers waved, summoning him.
104 He awakened bathed in icy sweat, staring up through the leaves at
105 the stars. He was alone. He sighed and closed his eyes and slept again.
106 Dawn came, and the man woke again with a premonition of dreadful
107 grief. The woman was gone, having taken his heart from his breast. He
108 knew that she had left him as surely as if he had seen her die. He knew
109 from then on, every hour would be achingly empty. His fate had come upon
110 him, a life full of yearning that never would be satisfied, of calling
111 and hearing no reply.
112 Sick with desire, he rose and searched. He hunted through the copse,
113 but found no sign of the woman. He searched the meadows, following every
114 path and byway, and still he found no sign.
115 So that day passed, and the next, and the next. The flowers faded
116 in the fields, the harvests were gathered in and the birds ceased their
117 singing. Still the man wandered, a gaunt figure silhouetted against the
118 winter sky, a man bereft of hope but not of longing.
119 At last he could walk no farther. He lay down on the bracken. The
120 final sounds he heard were the moan of the wind and the hoarse cries of
121 quarreling rooks.
122 When the villagers found him, they said little. But, when they were
123 safe in their homes again, they wispered of fairy enchantments and of the
124 ranks of mortals who were victims of fairy love. They spoke with fear as
125 mortals often did when they talked of the powers of Faerie.
126 Emris
127 +-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+-=-+
128
129
130 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/
131 Milch:I have used an unmodified commode-64 ONCE! The other one had a real
132 serial port, and was running decent software.
133 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/
134 A TOAST
135 ------------
136 Here's to you
137 and here's to me
138 May we never disagree
139 But if we do disagree,
140 Then here's to me.
141 _innocent bysitter_
142 *_)@#$*!)_*$_)*!$_)*$_*@#_)$*@#)_*%#_)*%^_)$%*_)*)@_#*%_@#*%_)@#%*@#_)%*@_)%@%
143 La Femme: Au sujet de femme, bien sur! Mais je ne comprende pas toi. Je ne
144 crois pas bien ce que vous m'avez dit! Oublier quoi? Parlez donc!
145 _@)*%_@)#*%_)@*%_*@)_%@%*@_%* L'homme sans Parity - s'embrouiller *_#@*$_@$*@_
146 ps:please excuse any mistakes...
147 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$#
148 L'homme: If you keep the French bit up I'll just have to unleash my Spanish.
149 #$##$##$##$##$#
150 "Well, Mr. Farley, how would you like to work for the NET?"
151 I was in shock. The NET wanted me?
152 "Why? What would I do?"
153 "You would do as you have been doing, looking for Joshua. Only you'd bring him
154 here, not to your former employers."
155 "Won't that make them mad?"
156 "Probably. Believe me, they can't do anything to you even if they wanted."
157 It sounded good, but still I wondered. I used the old line, "What's in it for
158 me?"
159 "Resources, and a suitable sum of currency. The amount will be based on the
160 job, contract basis. Do you agree?"
161 Hell, why not. "Agreed. First, where's the XD-40?"
162 The gentlemen left, and soon returned with the weapon. "Right here, Mr.
163 Farley. Joshua was last seen in Portland, at 10th and Taylor. Got that?"
164 "Sure. Just show me the way out."
165 I was led through a maze of corridors (all alike) and given an identification
166 card. "Here's the lift, Mr. Farley. Good luck."
167 In a flash, I was back up in the empty lot. Fred hadn't budged.
168 "Farley! Are you all right? Where were you?"
169 "I'm okay, Fred. I just had a little visit with the NET. Nothing to worry
170 about." Yet.
171 "Do you know, then, where to go now?"
172 "Yeah. 10th and Taylor. No rush, though. I have to get a motel room first."
173 "Ah, er, your employers run a hotel a few blocks from there, Farley. Perhaps
174 they would give you free lodging."
175 "FORMER employers. No, I think I'll skip that one. Find another. I'm beat."
176 #$##$##$##$##$##$# Farley #$##$##$##$##$##$# 12/24/84 - 10:16 #$##$##$##$##$#
177 JoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshua
178 "Well, how are we feeling today?" I looked up at the speaker and grinned.
179 "Good as new, Cameron." He scowled at me. "'Doctor Bangs', please. Let's
180 try to maintain a modicum of professionalism here. And as the doctor, may *I*
181 make the determination of your fitness?" As he set about examining my
182 frostbit extremities, I reflected on how lucky I had been to have been
183 transferred here to Willamette Falls. The rescue team that found me took me
184 to the hospital in Mattress, but they threw up their hands in despair when
185 they saw my condition. They decided the only place that could do anything
186 for me was Willamette Falls, and Dr. Bangs, who was a well-known expert
187 on cold-related injuries. (I think another reason they didn't want to keep
188 me was that the anti-'neeshie feelings were running high in the area, and they
189 feared for the safety of both me and their hospital.)
190 "Well, I guess I must second your opinion," Dr. Bangs told me when he
191 finished poking and prodding my anatomy. "As far as I'm concerned, you're
192 ready to go. How is Dr. Abraham doing with your memory?" "I'm afraid things
193 are about the same there," I reponded quietly, my pleasure in our friendly
194 banter suddenly lost. "I see faces but no names, scenes without even
195 subtitles, and I DON'T REMEMBER WHO I AM!" I bit off the words, and turned
196 and looked out the window, trying to regain my composure.
197 The good doctor offered a few token words of comfort, but finally left.
198 He was good at healing the body, but his skills at healing the psyche were not
199 so well developed.
200 I sat there, staring out the window, not seeing what I was looking at,
201 wallowing in self-pity. Wondering who I was, what I had done. I looked at my
202 hands, examined the scars from the freezing and resultant surgery, the
203 callouses from my hidden past. I flexed the fingers, enjoying the lack of pain
204 and the restored agility. If only the mind could be healed so easily.
205 Tiring of the pointless and frustrating introspection, I got out of bed
206 and headed for the lounge. What I needed was some human contact.
207 Arriving, I discovered no one there. Oh yeah, they were all at the Christmas
208 pageant. Bah humbug. I definitely wasn't in the mood for that.
209 I dropped into a chair, and picked up a several-day-old newspaper. Desultorily
210 flipping the pages, an article suddenly caught my attention.
211 "The Cast of NET....
212 ....NET agents L'homme and Gaudy Minsky......
213 ....Joshua..."
214 joshuajoshua joshua ua josh oshua... the name rang through my head, shaking
215 loose disjointed images of people and places. Suddenly I knew who L'homme sans
216 Parity was, and Gaudy Minsky, and most importantly, I KNEW WHO I WAS.
217 Joshua, the article had named me. Yes, at that time I had been Joshua.
218 However, that had not been my first identity. I barely remembered the name
219 I had been born with, and I doubted if even the almighty Ian MacHinery knew it.
220 I realized now what had happened. The pressures of the interrogations at the
221 commune, the life-threatening struggle in the wilderness, the loss of control
222 while under anesthetics here at the hospital, these had all combined to trigger
223 the post-hypnotics implanted by the NET to maintain their security.
224 As it turned out, the suggestion had been somewhat faulty, and that unique
225 individual *I* had been restored by references in the newspaper.
226 Rather fortuitously in this case, since there were no NET shrinks handy to
227 bring me back, but I'd have to let Ian know that his technique wasn't 100%.
228 Oh yes, NET. I finished reading the article, and sat there puzzled.
229 According to this Woodward character, NET was no longer active. This did not
230 jibe with what I knew about them, as NET was not a government agency, and even
231 such successful snoops as Jack Anderson should not have been able to find out
232 anything about them. Unless..... yes, it was undoubtedly a planted leak.
233 After all the noise created by the McKane thing, they had had to get out of the
234 public eye somehow, so they 'disbanded'. They probably reorganized their
235 branch offices, but the core organization would still be intact.
236 Now, how to find them....?
237 ...............................................................................
238 THE CLACKAMAS COUNTY REVIEW -
239 Police still have no clues on the whereabouts of the 'John Doe', who
240 disappeared from the Willamette Falls Hospital two nights ago. Clackamas
241 County Sheriff spokesman Noah Commente told the REVIEW, "Yeah, he was the
242 'neeshie that escaped from their commune down there in RAINdeer. He was purty
243 badly frostbit, and didn't even remember his name. Them damn' commies prob'ly
244 practiced their brainwashing tricks on the poor fella. Anyway, it seems he
245 snuck into the doctors lounge and stole a set of clothes, then took off in
246 the doc's car. Poor guy was probably outa his head, after what he'd been
247 through. We're all lookin' for him, and we expect to find him and the car
248 soon." When asked if the man was considered dangerous, detective Commente
249 replied, "Naw. The guy's prob'ly wacko, but the doctors here say he's
250 harmless." Spokesmen for the hospital had no comment.
251 ..........................
252 THE CLACKAMAS COUNTY REVIEW -
253 Sergeant Noah Commente, former spokesman for the Sheriff's office, offered
254 a public apology yesterday to the Dangerfield commune of RAINdeer.
255 Sergeant Commente had made "slanderous and unsubstantiated statements" to the
256 press about the commune, according to commune spokeswoman Ma Prem Rivers,
257 while he was commenting on the disappearance of a former commune member
258 from the Willamette Falls Hospital. Commente could not be reached for an
259 interview, and the Sheriff's office had no comment pending the outcome of
260 the internal affairs investigation.
261 ................................................................................
262 After 'escaping' from the hospital (I hated to treat them so shabbily
263 after they had been so kind, especially Dr. Bangs, but now that I had my
264 memory back, I couldn't afford any questions), I ditched the car in the
265 Clackamas River near the North Fork dam, and caught a ride back to Oregon City
266 with a returning fisherman, and then thumbed my way to downtown Portland.
267 There, I flopped with some of the street people I had met in the commune.
268 Now, a week later, I was ready to move. I had made contact with the 'criminal'
269 underground and obtained needed equipment, scouted out the relevant buildings,
270 and everything was set. Everything, that is, except disk space.
271 As this has gone for almost 100 lines, you'll have to wait for the next
272 exciting installment.
273 (with apologies to Doctor Cameron C. Bangs, MD)
274 JoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshua
275 PS - Farley: please don't find me yet, I've still got some things to do.
276 Thanks, Joshua.
277
278
279 Omega lifted one black and sopping boot onto the next step, trying wearily to
280 make it to the top of the flight of stairs. Water poured in streams from the
281 gaping slashes in the sides of his boots. Slashes made by sharpened roots, and
282 other things submerged below the blackened green waters of Louisiana bajous.
283
284 It had been three days on foot since Omega had entered the swamps. It was
285 nearly impossible to find Doctor Lloyd's laboratory from the air, even with
286 compass points. Something to do with heavy magnetic distortions from metalic
287 ores under the swamps, anyway...
288 As the Omega stepped onto the highest step and started looking at where in the
289 hell he was, it was a shock to see flourescent lamps, tiled floors, especially
290 glassware. Civilization, thought Omega, this is where I belong.
291
292 As if to finish off the joke, Omega stepped into the small laboratory and
293 started dohn the halls, trying to find the restroom.
294 Turning one corner, he bumped into a small round nursing attendant, who made
295 a really annoying shreik after one long look at him. Somehow, Omega expected her
296 to faint, after all that is the way it all happened in the movies. Was it not?
297 She righted herself, and stood straightly for a minute. ssibly pondering if
298 she ought to try for the alarm.
299 Omega stuck out a moss stained arm, and opened his hand to reaveal a Net
300 indentification card. She seemed calmed by this.
301
302 "I assume you want to speak to Doctor Lloyd?" She said obviously trying to
303 make up for being scared by praising Lloyd.
304 "I have some questions about possible mind blocks on the higher up's." Omega
305 had a theory. What if Joshua's mind block about security protection had failed,
306 it was entirely possible Joshua it was a mindless zombie somewhere. If he it was, at
307 least they would know. At least they would stop wondering.
308 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
309 Petrov sat in his car across from the empty lot. It had been at least an
310 hour since the man he'd been following disappeared while examining an empty can.
311 There was something familiar about this address. Hmmmm... Oh yeah!
312 Petrov smiled widely. Joshua had told him about this empty lot.
313 {fade to memory sequence}
314 {place: Dragon room torture chamber}
315 "Why me? Upside-down again!" Petrov was suspended over a bed of hot coals.
316 He eyed Joshua and L'homme. "Why do you guys get to be righ-side up?"
317 "Can't you see we're talking here?" Irritation was plain in Joshua's voice.
318 L'homme had ben talking to Joshua in one of the NET's secret languages. Petrov
319 wished he had paid more attention in his "NET secret language" class he had
320 taken at the McKane Academy. He DID understand most of the conversation,
321 though. Since McKane knew about this language, it had to be one of the older
322 and simpler ones. Petrov dismally scanned the room while keeping an ear on the
323 discussion.
324 "...and there's these two guys who like to pretend they're NET agents,"
325 L'homme said. "They operate out of an empty lot in Portland." Both men
326 laughed. "It's a pretty popular joke among our NET operatives. I remember this
327 time they took a man off the street, showed him around their hideout, and sent
328 him on some fool mission!" The pressure of the situation made the story seem
329 funnier than it really was. The captives laughed hysterically.
330 Suddenly their laughter was cut short by a strange rumbling noise; a corner
331 of the room caved in. A Tank?
332 "Ian! We were just starting to have fun in here..."
333
334 Petrov snapped back to the present. Last he knew, the NET was considering
335 taking over the elaborate empty lot for their own purposes. That was about five
336 months ago. Petrov decided he'd have to talk to an OFFICIAL NET agent to
337 discover whether or not they had done so.
338 Petrov was confused and intrigued. "I wonder who that captured man is REALLY
339 dealing with? NET? Psychopathic pseudo-spies? Hmmmm."
340 Petrov
341 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
342
343 This is beginning to get interesting... (Confusing, too!)
344
345 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
346
347 Say, is it just my modem needing adjustment, or are the phone lines
348 sick, or what? This is ridiculous.
349
350 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
351 HELLO. I OWN A NEC PC 8800 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KN_W IF THERE IS ANY ONE
352 ELSA IN THIS WORLD THAT HAS ONE TOO.IF YOU DO HAVE ONE CALL 663-5030 AND ASK FR
353
354 NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS
355 INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR COMSET / NET AGENTS / FOR YOUR EARS ONLY
356
357 AGENTS : AS YOU KNOW OUR RECENT PRESS LEAKS HAVE ALLEVIATED INQUESTS
358 FROM CERTAIN SECTORS. BY USING THE POPULAR PRESS, WE HAVE GAINED AN EDGE OVER
359 OUR ENEMIES. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW LONG THIS SIDETRACKING WILL CONTINUE TO BE
360 SUCCESSFUL, SO TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
361 THE PRIMARY MISSION FOR NET REMAINS THE RECOVERY OF JOSHUA, WHO WE
362 ARE QUITE POSITIVE IS STILL ALIVE; BUT HIS CONDITION OR WHEREABOUTS REMAIN
363 UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
364 AGENTS PARITY, MINSKY, FELLOWS, AND FLEMMING HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO
365 PORTLAND, AND WILL CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH FROM THAT LOCATION. ADVANCE
366 LOGISTICS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.
367 ALL NET AGENTS MUST BE WARNED ABOUT A RECENT RISE IN UNAUTHORIZED USE
368 OF OUTDATED NET CODES, AND AGENTS USING FORGED NET IDENTIFICATION, FOR AS YET
369 UNDETERMINED PURPOSES. WITH THE RECENT PRESS COVERAGE AND THE RUMORS
370 CIRCULATING ON CAPITOL HILL REGARDING MONETARY SUPPLEMENTS TO NET, SOME
371 SPLINTER GROUP HAS FORMED, AND ARE EMULATING 10-YEAR OLD NET PROCEDURES, WHICH
372 HAVE BECOME PUBLIC RECORD UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
373 ITEM LAST REGARDING PORTLAND'S SAND-LOT HEADQUARTERS. AS YOU ALL KNOW,
374 THIS POPULAR JOKE AMOUNG NET AGENTS HAS TURNED OUT TO HAVE A RATHER IRONIC
375 TRUTH TO IT. IT SEEMS AS IF SOME OF THE SPLINTER GROUP IMPOSTERS HAVE
376 UTILIZED THIS LOCATION TO SET UP AN ADVANCE BASE. DETAILS ARE STILL SKETCHY,
377 AND FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE RELAYED VIA COMSET AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
378 NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS SERVICE NET NEWS
379 hello my name is charlie i just got this
380 new auto modem for christmas
381
382 goodbye
383
384
385
386 help
387 stop
388 exit
389 break
390 exit
391 fokjngo:onbobnm;=;Lnvontgr
392 exit
393
394
395 Charlie: Congratulations on getting a new auto-dial modem for your(I assume)
396 Commodore...but next time, if you don't know what you're doing
397 please read the instructions. For help on BWMS, type "help".
398 To leave, type "off" and turn off your modem(manually). Merry
399 Christmas,
400 "Batman"
401 P.S. Disk space IS limited here, so I took the liberty of deleting a bunch of
402 blank lines...didn't touch anything you entered...
403
404 WE WANT TO WRITE A MESSAGE BUT WE DONT KNOW HOW TO DO IT . CAN ANY BODY HELP T
405 WHAT DO WE DO NEXT? CAN ANY BODY HELP US WITH THIS PROBLEM?
406 HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS MODE?????????
407 HELP
408
409
410 oh joy oh joy, all those new modems for christmas
411 Look out BBS's, here they come......
412 PLEASE SOMBODY RESPOND TO THIS!!! WHY
413 WOULD ANYONE WANT A COMODORE 64?
414 EVERYONE KNOWS THERE TRASH!!!!
415 OFF
416 HELLO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HI
417 FRIEND MANNIX DIZON
418 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? > ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/
419 Mikey:It looks like the next few days will be a haven for folks who hit return
420 when faced with a blank line. Just a reminder of the bright side to this,
421 some of them may be here to write and talk!
422 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG/ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/
423 MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERY cHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISTMAS!
424
425 FROM DAN AND MATT
426 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
427 Gad!! New modems for Christmas!! Looks like we're in for a grand 'ol time for the next couple of weeks!
428 MiG and Sondargaard: Prometheus has told me that you feel I was unfair in my criticism of teenagers out on dates in 20'
429 tall 4x4s. If you would drop me a line on either this system or Le Nerd, perhaps I could explain myself.
430 Until next time, May your gods be with you, stringing happiness throughout your life time, And I hope you had a wonde
431 rful Christmas season.
432 Zippy
433 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
434
435 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$#
436 Ye gods, what a tangled web we weave... and on a Christmas day.
437 #$##$##$##$##$#
438 I rested quietly in my room, pondering events. Things were not as they seemed.
439 I wondered who really did what to whom and when, and most importantly, if
440 anything was done to me. I needed Fred to help me straighten things out.
441 "Fred? Farley here. Anything on that ID card the NET gave me?"
442 "Yes, Farley. It was made by mail-order by a novelty shop in Portland.
443 I'm afraid the people you were dealing with were phonies."
444 Great. I'm going to have to stop waking up to such great news in the morning.
445 "And John? Did you contact him? I have this funny feeling they messed around
446 with the XD-40. Seems okay, but..."
447 "No luck. He seems to have disappeared. Have you seen today's paper?"
448 "Why?" I really wasn't in the mood for hearing about the latest war in the
449 middle east. "Anything special?"
450 "Just that a man escaped from a hospital not too far from here. He matches
451 Joshua's discription, and he was treated after exposure to extreme cold.
452 Remember the snow near RAINdeer?" (Yes, I have changed the reference. EF)
453 Could it be? Wait, hold it just a second here. Who do I bring him to now?
454 I don't like or trust the Beeshies. I definitely don't bring him to anyone
455 that passes out false ID cards... Who, then?
456 ...............the Real NET?
457 "Fred, get warmed up. First, we find John. I want this thing examined. Next,
458 we get you fitted with some more gear. I have had this strange feeling of
459 being followed. Then we find out more about the NET, but this time I mean the
460 *REAL* NET. If it exists at all, but the doubt is getting less all the time.
461 Lastly, we find Joshua, and bring him to whoever I trust at the time. Got all
462 that?"
463 "I think so. Farley, I've been working on your first name now for quite some
464 time now, but I have still had no luck. Won't you tell me?"
465 "What brought this on?" This car was acting stranger all the time. Hey, wait,
466 this thing is a machine. Stop thinking of it as human.
467 "I...just need to be successful at something. I've bungled nearly all of the
468 jobs you gave me. I want to do something right, even if I have to ask you.
469 What is your first name, Farley?"
470 "Ok, ok. It's Eugene. Now be quiet, and let's get to John's shop."
471 "Farley-", Fred began.
472 "Yeah, now what?" I was getting a mite irritated by this time. I don't
473 believe I just told this stupid thing what my first name was.
474 "I've found out what your name is. It's Eugene."
475 Great, I thought, it's redundant too...
476 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$# Farley #$##$##$##$##$##$##$# 12/25/84 - 08:42, Merry Xmas
477 Hey, anyone: is Nerdolux back up? If so, why is it IMPOSSIBLE to get on?
478 Curiously yours, FF
479 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Why do so many people say that
480
481 C-64's are trash? I my self don't like my apple much and wish expanding it w
482 as as easy and inexpensive as my friends c-64......
483 Wondering Why===================
484 The vehicle came in for a landing at NET headquarters. It's appearance and
485 means of propulsion would have astonished onlookers, that is if it's owner
486 had _allowed_ the onlookers to perceive it.
487 Before stepping onto the roof, he checked the contents of his pack.
488 Yes, everything was there. He closed the pack and approached the entrance.
489 Eluding the guards took but a fraction of his attention. He thought
490 about his mission as he strolled towards the resident agents' quarters. The
491 NET prided itself on being considered mythical. To HIM that was laughable.
492 He chuckled at the thought.
493 He normally worked at night, but for people whose schedules were as
494 erractic as his "targets", he would make an exception.
495 He entered the apartments as if they were unlocked. In each he
496 secreted items from his pack. None of the sleeping agents stirred. Not even
497 the notoriously light sleeper, L'Homme!
498 He left as quickly, and silently as he had entered. Any observer
499 would have been hard put to put believe how little time he had needed. But
500 then, he was a professional. He'd been doing this sort of thing for AGES.
501 As he left, he consulted a list. Ah, yes, Petrov! As he drove off
502 he set a box marked "Fredrick's of Hollywood" on the seat next to him.
503 ............................
504 We shall observe the discovery of only one of tne "surprises" that
505 he has placed.
506 .............................
507 Ian awoke with a feeling that something was not quite right. He
508 arose carefully, checking for danger before each move. He began a slow
509 careful search of the room...
510 There! That package! It hadn't been there when he went to sleep.
511 Ian knew better than to do as movie heroes often do and plunge the package
512 into a tub of water. Too many bombs would DETONATE when the water reached
513 the wiring. He did not call for help, anyone who could get a package into
514 his room WHILE HE WAS IN IT could have rigged the door or phone.
515 He'd deal with the package first, then the door, then the phone.
516 .....
517 Sometime later, he had finished opening the package. All it contained
518 were a tape, a book and a card....
519 the BOOK! It was a copy of Machiavelli's "The Prince". Ian had been
520 meaning to get a copy, but had never had the time...
521 He checked it carefully...
522 no, just a book. Hmmm. Someone had picked a strange way to
523 deliver a present?
524 He set the tape aside after determining that it, too was safe.
525 .......... that left the card....
526 ... this side was blank...
527 He picked it up and turned it over...
528
529 Merry Christmas, Ian.
530 I thought you might like the book. The tape
531 is only 18 minutes, but you and the NET
532 should enjoy it.
533 S. Claus
534
535 IT COULDN'T BE! Could it? He threaded the tape into a player.
536 A few minutes later he turned off the tape, ashen-faced,
537 and poured himself a drink.
538 It HAD to be real! Who else could have a copy of the the "missing
539 eighteen minutes"? Ian shook his head.
540 MERRY-CHRISTMAS:MERRY-CHRISTMAS:MERRY-CHRISTMAS:MERRY-CHRISTMAS:MERRY-CHRISTMAS
541 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
542 FARLEY, "THE VACANT LOT PEOPLE", PETROV, ETC
543 YOU ARE _INVITED_ TO ATTEND THE PORSFIS MEETING THIS SATURDAY
544 (DEC 29) AT 2PM IN THE MAIN AUDITORIUM OF THE DOWNTOWN BRANCH OF THE
545 MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY.
546 PURPOSE: "TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST"
547 IAN MACHINERY
548 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
549 Ian - was that *REALLY* you!? I'm amazed! You _Never_ leave such
550 elaborate & lengthy entries. Has the 'Deus ex Machina' become rusty?
551 Far out! And Yes, Joshua and Petrov will be in attendance.
552 ------
553 Farley - we were going to suggest that you could 'selectively' ignore
554 whatever didn't fit with your visualizations, but I see we were too late.
555 Petrov tried to leave it open for you, but a subsequent author was not
556 quite so cooperative. So sorry. You managed to roll with it well, though.
557 Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov\Joshua/Petrov
558 NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING
559 According to authorities on mind control and disinformation, the best
560 subjects for brainwashing are not, as one would expect, the weak, the
561 stupid, or the renegade. On the contrary, people with discipline, intell-
562 igence, and loyalty are the best targets. They have a capacity for ideal-
563 ism and enough of an attention span to absorb the new system , to let it
564 completely supplant the old.
565 Whoever controls these things in Dangerfield's organization saw immediately
566 that Agent L'homme was too cynical and Agent Minsky too utterly disorgan-
567 ized to be good subjects, but saw in Agent Joshua all of the qualities
568 desirable in a willing malleable intelligence. Indeed, we recognized these
569 characteristics ourselves when we first recruited him and gave him
570 NET training. It is not clear to us what the 'Neeshies have implanted in
571 his mind, but we are fairly sure that, if he is aware of it on a
572 conscious level, he knows too much to be safe.
573 And we don't know how much of our own training has become...inoperative.
574 NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING NET BRIEFING
575 (...and for you, Petrov, BRIEF NETTING BRIEF NETTING BRIEF NETTING)
576 to be continued on the next disk------G. Minsky
577 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
578 Emris--good entry; nice style.
579 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
580 ps: Yes, it WAS me (at least between MY borders).
581 Note to Petrov. It is NOT necessary to wear txe contents of YOUR
582 package to the meeting.
583 Oh, and Alex, get ready for another cipher....
584 Ian MacHinery
585 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
586
587 Note - Joshua and Petrov are two seperate characters, written by two different people.
588 The previous combined message was the result on negotiation, not collusion or 'single-mindedness'.
589 JoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshua
590
591 ~~~~~~Who guards the Guardian but his PaPa~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
592 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ PaPa Smurf, Go away! I can handle it. Really! --->the perplexed Guardian
593 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
594 My goodness! I seem to have nearly bracketed this disk. I'll leave a few
595 spaces so I'm not really on the
596 B O T T O M !
597 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
598
599
600 My, how things can change in 24 hours...from pegasi to NET operatives!!
601 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/Luingil/\/\/\(I'll be at PorSFiS)/\/\(NEXT DISK!)/\/\
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