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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
2 ************************* INSTALLED: 27 AUG 86 **********************
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 The top, huh?Well, I've never been 'ere before.... but, wow, i'n't it a
21 strnge sensation????? how about a little bit of constructive response to
22 me little tale???
23 Be brutul iof necessary, 'cos it's good for me.!!
24 but, mostly, be honest.
25 'nough said.I Have the honour of being at the top, for the first
26 time ever, so time for an appropriate quotation:
27
28
29 "Once more into the breach my friends, and fill the gap
30 with your English dead!"
31
32 With thanks to Willie Shakespere,
33 from Adric,
34 (Who, whilst British, isn't
35 English!!)
36 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
37 ________________________________________________________________________________
38 Blood on the windows
39 Millions of ordinary people are there
40 They gaze at the scenery
41 They act as if it is perfectly clear
42 Take a look at the mountains
43 Take a look at the beautiful river of blood.
44
45 The liquid surrounds me
46 I fight to rise from this river of hell
47 I stare round about me
48 Children are swimming and playing with boats
49 Their features are changing
50 Their bodies dissolve and I am alone.
51
52 Do you know what you have done?
53
54 Now you never did see such a terrible thing
55 As was seen last night on the T.V.
56 Maybe if we're lucky, they will show it again
57 Such a terrible thing to see
58 There's nothing you can do when you're the next in line
59 You've got to go domino.
60
61
62 _ -Phil
63 ________________________________________________________________________________
64 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
65 Golly! 12 of March all over again? I knew that Backwater was magical,
66 but not this magical!!
67 PEN NAME
68 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
69 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
70 Mad Actor: Greetings, friend! Nice to see you around here again, and nice
71 to here that you are making it in that field that I've long forsook. Your
72 story has touched on thoughts that I've had on ritual dance. Good story.
73 Now, if only Miranda would visit me soon, I might be able to add to this
74 resurgence of verbal artistry, and tell a little more of her story...
75 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.Emu
76 ____08/27/86__________________JD 2446670.5917_________19:12:08_PDT_________
77 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZoom...
78 Emu: Go for it!!!!!
79 All: I am ecstatic! At last, some good writing. Mad Actor, yours is one
80 of the best I have ever seen on this board, although the ending was a bit confusing.
81 All that would make it perfect is for Silverman to return. John, where are you?
82 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZoom...
83 Is that Zippy?
84 `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`
85 After 2 months and still on Enter only. Almost all of the boards
86 seem to be down or gone and no way to find out wich numbers are
87 still good (couldn't get on Bucket).
88 Can anyone help me find a listing of some sort?
89 `,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`Mark,`,`
90
91 <o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o>
92 The long summer nights.
93 A friendship unknown
94 A friend that is gone
95 No reason why.
96 So much that should be said
97 So much that should never have
98 Unknowing...unknowable.
99 A hand scribled sign
100 Echoing in the eyes
101 "Trust no one"
102 Not even a friend.
103 Laying unmoving
104 On cool white sheets
105 A hope that is fading
106 A fear come to life.
107 An emptiness that goes deep within
108 A piece that is missing
109 A spirit is gone.
110 All alone on a long summer night.
111 BH
112 <o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o><o>
113
114 *%@*%_)^&_))&*#^)##+!(^!+^(@_#^*@^&_@*+|$$@*$+^*)$^*#$)^&_)*^!)_$^*+*^(+$^*#)$^*^)#(#+((((!#)*^#$^*_^&_)*^#$)#^#$^*#^_*#_^*
115 Alex: Wars are over. Battles lost and won. Dead counted. Wounded healed. Widow
116 s weep for the long and lost. But never a thing is Risked. A game to the body
117 and soul, yet it becomes so much more while The Game is played.
118 A journey into a new realm of technology was discussed last time our paths
119 crossed. This journey is still possible. Have you perchance found one of those
120 log books so helpful on new adventures yet? And while millions break down
121 doors to take a peek at a secret hull, the doors will be left open to the
122 systems in where we seek electronic relaxation.
123 The last confrontation is over, and all colors but black perished in the fight.
124 We must somehow right this wrong. The scurge has been too successful of late.
125 There must be some action we can take.
126 I wish all the family members a 'salut!'
127 Mark: Almost all the systems are down? My last count hovered near ninety BBS's
128 operating locally. Of this large number, only a small percentage is on a
129 temporary hiatus, for reasons ranging from sysop dislocation to motherboard
130 replacement. Expand your normal calling radius. You might find some gems out
131 there you did not know existed.
132 Emu: Miranda would be welcome in a world where witches and sea serpents give
133 birth to creatures, while not man, interact with man as an equal. It is
134 always desirable to read the adventures of one learning their craft; and
135 learning just what it means to be rooted in New Law and New Testament. Pray
136 continue.
137 !@*$(#%*%@^&_)*@#%_@%_*@^)@#^ L'homme sans Parity *%()*%@)*%@_*%*^_#^*_%)@_%*)+*+%(@%_^&@_))&)*!+)(*$+%*)+_)!)*+~%**_#&*!_)%!
138 PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
139 or somet
140 h
141 i or something having
142 or something having
143 with some sort of a game or two
144 ge systems or whatever...
145 Nordic Coast
146 503-246-xxxx
147 hen we get the 10 meg it will
148 [7m VT100 inverse video ON [0m OFF
149
150 B0 ADM3A inverse video ON C0 OFF
151
152 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/
153 Alex: an address would be helpfull, by the usual routes. Or a meeting in a
154 room full of maps. Your choice.
155 TJ: the pseudonym doesn't ring bells, hit me with another one.
156 Zoom would be Zippy if he wore an earring, does he?
157 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?/MiG
158 mikoyan, is that you ???????
159 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
160
161 to: The Mad(Excellent) Actor,
162
163 Please write more of your excellent prose, 'cos that's
164 the best part of the Backwater system,( 'least as far as I'm concerned.)
165 If you have one or two more floating around, please let us have a look
166 at 'em.It would be most appriciated.
167
168
169 Elforson woke to the sound of a dry brnch breaking, and
170 looked down out of his erie to see the massive body of a thirty-foot anaconda
171 flowing up the tree toward him.It was already on the branch supporting his
172 nest, and coming up fast, despite its massive weight.Elforson desperately
173 scanned the surrounding treetops for a convienient branch, but could see
174 only small branches below him.
175 He hung by his fingertips to he edge of the nest, and dropped,
176 grabbing at the brach whipping up toward him.His fingers gripped hard, and
177 the branch ripped off.He let go the branch he was holding, and grabbed at
178 the next.His arms nearly jerked out of their sockets, Elforson hung, his
179 shoulders on fire.He swung, agonizingly from side to side, his feet reaching
180 out for the trunk.
181
182 Elforson reached the ground with little time to spare, for the
183 anaconda had not yet given up on this quarry.He ran, leaping over bushes,
184 streams, and small trees.His right foot caught under a vine, and Elforson
185 crashed to the ground, and lay still.He had no coice, his foot was still
186 entwined in the vine.He struggled to free it, glancing over his shoulder,
187 where, just above the undergrowth, a large flat head was approaching, a meas-
188 ured metre from the ground.Elforson leaped to his feet, only to crash down
189 again, wincing in pain, as his wrenched ankle protested bearing any weight.
190 With a little more care, Elforson erected himself once more,
191 and staggered on again.His brown-grey jumpsuit was torn and dirty, his leg
192 cut and bleeding.He was dimly aware as he ran of a shriek, almost human in
193 timbre, behind him.He stumbled and fell, rolled, and saw what was happening.
194 The anaconda behind him had found easier prey, a baby gibbon.Whilst it was
195 a pity, Elforson was grateful to be alive, and gave the gibbon not a second
196 thought.Already his mind was ajusting to live or die of nature, and his
197 intellect made no protest of morality.
198
199 As night fell, it found Elforson some ten miles from the crash
200 site, and he now had an objective in mind.He knew, that some fifty miles
201 from his present position, there was an olsd experimental station.It was a
202 tropospheric scatter station, and, if he was lucky, There might be some
203 method of letting the outside world know where he was.It was but a slim chance,
204 yet he knew that any hope was precious, if only for its ability to keep him
205 going.Elforson slept.
206
207
208 An attempt, from Adric.
209 (Continued from the end
210 of disk B )
211 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
212
213 ?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?
214
215 I see talent in the words of Adric. Estheticism. Prose worthy of the
216 designation. What it needs is seasoning. Uncounted tips and hint gained over
217 the space of time. One of which, being arrogant enough to suggest it now, is
218 placing one to two spaces after every sentence. So take the advice of others
219 seriously. Think about. Reject it at will, of course. But don't ignore it as
220 I might have wanted to. Sometime else,
221 (Darn Enter Only, though no one remembers All Allowed) Opos.
222
223 ___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?___?
224
225 <<<<<<<
226
227 Mr. Actor,
228 I am glad to see that you can take the critics words even if you don't agree
229 with them. I am also glad to see somebody else (meagerly) make comment to the
230 ending of your work. Hopefully you can work this into a feasible story.
231
232
233 The KRITIK
234
235 >>>>>>>
236
237
238 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
239 I've been gone for over a month and who welcomes me back but an impostor using
240 my name!!! I am the REAL PEN NAME. The impostor apparently uses double-quote
241 marks as a border. I have used and always will use the border I use now!
242 Impostor, begone and smite my name no more.
243 PEN NAME
244 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
245 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
246
247 one to two spaces, huh? Sounds good.Thanks for the
248 feedback mate.Any help I can get I welcome, 'cos
249 like you said, Opos, I'm basically inexperienced.
250 Thanx for constructive criticism.
251
252 Elforson looked up towards the ridge ahead, marvelling at
253
254 the verdant beaty ahead, yet aware that it contained danger on all sides.
255 The last glimpse he had seen of the tropospheric scatter station was well
256 past an hour ago, and at least seven miles. He trudged on, his ankle barely
257 bothering him, as his mind worked on the possible methods of communication.
258 He knew it was naive to hope to be able to use the main transmission dishes,
259 as their power supply would be dead.A tought struck home, as he realized that
260 they would have been powered by an on-site generator. It was just concievable
261 that some fuel remained, but, considering his limited knowledge of engineeering,
262 he had little hope of running the scatter station.What he might do is set a
263 smoke signal for a spotter plane to see. He realised that this wasn't practical
264 , as no-one knew he was flying in this area. After all, the local government
265 wasn't over-fond of Enlish speaking people.
266
267 His mind was forced back to the present by the cliff ahead of him.
268 He would have to scale this to keep his line-of-sight of the station.He
269 took out his climbing helmet, ropes, pitons, and gun, in preperation for
270
271 the assult. Looking up the cliff, it struck him that there were no
272 convienient outcrops or trees to attach his ropes to. There was, however, a
273 chimney that looked scaleable. Of course, on that first cliff, he had had a
274 largge tree in which he had lodged his rope, and he was not looking forward
275 to free ascent up this chimney.
276
277 Halfway up, he happened to look back along his line of travel.
278 Following it, some fifteen miles back, were two helicopters, of an anti-
279 quated military design. He realised that his plane had been discovered, and
280 that if they found him, he was in trouble.As an Enlish speaker, and, moreover,
281 an American, his reception would be far from pleasant.He set himself a faster
282 pace up the cliff, knowing that at their present distance, he was still
283 invisible to the pilots of the choppers.He was but a ew metres from the crest,
284 and he paused to rest.
285
286 Luckily for him, he was under a bush, so when the second flight
287 of choppers passed directly overhead, scaring him badly, he wasn't seen. He
288
289 tried to crawl deeper under the bush, as they continued their search pattern.
290 It dawned on him then that as they would meet about five miles back from
291 his present position, he was safe. Undoubtably they would ignore the sector
292 in the other flight's pattern, so he moved on as best he could. Once at the
293 top, he paused only longe enough to take a compass bearing on the station,
294 and moved on at a steady trot.He was aware of the multitudes of life around
295 him, as not far off, a troupe of gibbons chased one of the jungle's few cats,
296 apparantly a panther, away from their young.
297
298 He idly wondered about adopting an arbourial mode of travel,
299 but realised that this was mere fancy, as not many branches would support
300 the weight of a man.The colours around him were so vivid that they played
301 tricks on his eyes. He seemed to see movement where none was.It was only
302 from the corners of his eyes that he saw these raopid bursts of apparant motion.
303 Not unnaturally, he became a little paranoid, and began to turn in his
304 tracks as he walked, attempting to cover all angles equally.
305
306 This time there could be no mistake!!After two hours of the
307 " movements, " he was sure that this one had been a face!!
308
309 Adric.
310 (Sorry for the inconsistansy, but I
311 forget then remember as I write.)
312
313 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
314 PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
315
316 ____08/28/86__________________JD 2446671.6135_________19:43:53_PDT_________
317 {{{{{{{{{<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>shiva<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>{{{{{{{
318 As flowers from a tempests wrath
319 through the hole i see no path
320 a weary trav'ler growing near
321 singing loudly the song they hear
322 brightens the forest like a ship on the sea
323 green spear breaks earth - a little tree.
324 }}}}}}}}}}}}<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>shiva<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>}}}}}}
325 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
326 Ah, Great Pretender, it has been a long time...but Dino Dung! Must we go
327 through this all again? Very well, here it is:
328 A change of computer left me with a fear of communications for qutie a
329 long while. When the time came to put in an apperance, I felt that a new
330 change, for the new times, was in order. Hence the new border; it shows
331 up well on my terminal and projects well with the alias.
332 Well, I'm afraid for your sake you caught me in the mood for a bit of
333 a scrap, so continue this charade at your own peril!
334 At least you're getting the name in the right place...
335 PEN NAME
336 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
337
338 !##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!
339 I've always wondered why people insist on impure immitation. And
340 I don't mean Miracle Whip instead of salad dressing!
341 This place is wonderful, really, but I'm affraid I'll be moving
342 over to more secure pastures. The "REAL" PEN NAME, might you have
343 access to THE BLUE PARROT? Several do (inimical ones as well.) It is
344 a place that allows protection such afflictions as you have here.
345 Hello again dear Doctor.....
346 - Nom de Sant
347 !##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!
348 Oh, I forgot! The Blue Parrot (GBBS) - 253-xxxx
349 And inimical is a real word.
350 !##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##!##! NDS !##!##!##!##!##!##!
351 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
352 It just doesn't pay to show off. I found that out the hard way. Let me
353 tell you about it:
354 I had just gotten a brand new used '74 Camaro. Beautful car, nice blue
355 paintjob, mags, whitewalls, almost no scratches. I'm pretty damn proud of that
356 car, if I do say so myself. And the girls, hell, they love a fast car. I knew a
357 guy who had a car like this and he had to book reservations for it. No kidding.
358 And at least half the time he wound up in tha back seat with 'em. Jeez, I
359 thought I couldn't miss!
360 I was coming home from the laundromat and stopped at this four-way on
361 Wilson. Sitting at the bus stop on the opposite corner were two choice chicks.
362 I mean, neither one of the had to be more than 17, and, since it was so hot,
363 they were dressed in shorts and *very* tight fitting tops. Real prime stuff.
364 The taller one had no bra and a pair on her that I couldn't believe. Smother me
365 in those and I die happy. Anyways, they were both looking in my direction. I
366 decided, hell, I'd race past 'em, impress 'em with my rod (the car), and come
367 back around the block and see if I could pick 'em up. Real bright idea.
368 I'm kinda inexperienced with a stick shift (among other things), and that
369 was my downfall. I shoved the knob forward and floored it. The car went
370 "Ka-hoomp! Ka-hoomp!" twice and died right in the middle of the intersection.
371 I had the damn thing in third.
372 I took it out of gear and turned the key: "rrrrRRRRrrrrRRRRrrrr..."
373 Flooded.
374 It was hot, but that's not the reason I'm sweating. I look up and the
375 girls are staring at me like I'd just come down from Mars or something. I tried
376 not to blush too hard as I turned the key again.
377 "HOOONNNK!!"
378 I almost jumped out the window. I look to my right, at the street
379 I'm now blocking, and there's some geek in a beatup Chevy pickup that looked
380 like it had been painted with housepaint, leaning out the window and shouting
381 things at me that I don't care to repeat. I turn the key again and the engine
382 roars to life. Hell with it. I pop him the finger as I throw it in gear and
383 floor it.
384 The car starts moving forward at about five miles an hour. Third gear
385 again. I throw one last, longing look at the girls as I hit the clutch and put
386 it in first. The car started putting on some speed.
387 I don't know where the guy in the Chevy had originally intended to go but
388 he was now right on my tail, laying on the horn all the way. I think he might
389 have been a little peeved at my gesture earlier. And I don't know what he had
390 under the hood, but there was no way on God's green earth I was gonna lose him.
391 I'm starting to worry now. We're both tooling up Wilson, which is a
392 residential street, at about fifty. If someone pulled out of a cross street, or
393 a kid or something went into the road, well, that would be all she wrote. But
394 if I slowed down, he'd ram me from behind, which he'd already tried. The guy
395 was nuts.
396 Luck ws with me for once. Up ahead, a cop was pulling out from a side
397 street. I missed him. He didn't. I hit the brakes. It was just a sideswipe. I
398 watched as the cop and the psycho both got out of their cars, shaken but
399 unhurt. The cop got his gun out and put it to the psycho's head and I decided
400 to get the hell out of there before he thought to get my license number.
401 I waited until I was parked in my driveway before I had my nervous
402 breakdown. I sat in the car for a long time, thinking over the whole fiasco.
403 All this just to impress a couple of lousy girls. The last I saw of them, I
404 knew I'm made a definite impression.
405
406 They were probably still laughing.
407
408 ////////////////////////James/////////////////////////////////////////
409 ############################################################################
410 The Inn had become busy again, patrons filling the tables. The walls had
411 become stable once more, but that metal door was still there. And even though
412 the sounds emitting from behind it had deminished some, they were still
413 there. Some voices familur, and others not. But active nonetheless.
414 #######"##################### The Innkeeper ###############################
415 Hey James! I liked your story about
416 teen-age lust and foolishness. Don't
417 worry though, it's all a part of "growing up", and you will recover soon enough...
418 ZARDOZ
419 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
420 The last time I read something about shifting gears and Camaros, it was a
421 in a story written by The Destroyer. Looks like he is back. Same style. Same
422 <=20 years old characters. Same chip on the shoulder. Welcome back James.
423
424 Not this again. The duo Pen Names. We went through this before. I am the real
425 Pen Name. None of this phony quote mark boarder garbage. I have always used
426 this boarder, and no other will take its place. I am the one who writtes the
427 weird stories. I am the real Pen Name. Make no mistake folks, certainly you
428 can tell the difference between me and the faker. I refuse to talk to you
429 facker any more. It is a waste of my time. You must have better things to
430 do too. So enough!
431 PEN NAME
432 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
433 ++++----++++----++++----++++----++++----
434 Has this become a "Juvie Board"?
435 Knock of the garbage and get back to
436 real literature!!!
437
438 ++++----++++----++++----++++----++++
439 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
440 What is "real literature"?
441 Never heard of it.
442 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
443 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (just a note)
444 Guess what folks? Yup, it's me. I'm back.
445 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian
446 pModel 100 inverse on
447 and now offq
448 ____08/29/86__________Leonard_JD 2446672.6043_________19:30:11_PDT_________
449 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
450
451 Elforson was breathing hard, his breath coming in quick,
452 short gasps.He was drenched with sweat, and only half was from his exertions,
453 as he ran for his life.At least, so he saw it. The faces had kept up with
454 him for the past five arduous miles.His chet was shot with pains, his legs
455 felt like wood, his feet lead. Whilst he was in decent physical shape, he
456 hadn't run like this since high school, (not including his training for
457 fencing, his other main hobby/sport.) His feet crashing down in agonies
458 at each impact, he was near the end of his energy reserves, and he was very,
459 very, frightened. Those faces he had glimpsed were smeared with a green
460 dye, in a sort of ritualized camouflage pattern.He remembered a film he had
461 seen as a teenager about a lost tribe who used this stuff. They had been
462 called the Invisible People, and were feared by the other tribes in the
463 film. He had heard tell that the film was based in reality to some extent.
464
465 That was why he was running as if the hounds of Heralthing were at his
466 heels. His ears heard a whizz,- thunk, and as he ran, he wondered why that
467 sound had unpleasant connotations. looking up to his right, he remembered.
468 It was the sound of an arrow, biting into the wood of a tree, not six inches
469 to the right of his head. He dived, and rolled up behind a tree, standing
470 with his back against it, and began to try to peer around it. Something
471 made him realise that he had stopped breathing, and he wanted to know why.
472
473 The answer made itself apparant by putting its hand up in a gesture
474 of peace, whilst the other held a sturdy spear to his breast. Elforson froze.
475 He tried to smile an engaginrg smile, but instead, his jaw hung slack, and,
476 making vauge mewling sounds, he sunk into a weak-kneed squat. His captor
477 squatted also, but with an obvious lack of weakness in his knees.
478
479 Elforson then almost passed out, as his captor grinned broadly, and
480 said, in considerably better English than Elforson's own,
481
482 " Hello Stranger.We would not hurt you for any reason, and were, in
483 fact, trying to keep you away from the territory of the smugglers. I will
484 return, but for the moment, I must go. Fear not, I go for help."
485
486 Elforson's face clearly showed his considerable astonishment. His
487 " captor " obviously found this hilarious, for, with a mischievious grin,
488 he said,
489 " If we do meet again--why, we shall smile. If not, why then this
490 parting was well made."
491
492 As Elforson blinked in surprise, his friend vanished into the bushes,
493 leaving Elforson wtih the unnerving impression of vanishing into thin air.
494 Staggered, he climbed a tree to wait in, and, halfway up, recognised the
495 quote as Shakespeare, Brutus and Cassius before battle.His mind in turmoil,
496 he once again slept.
497
498 He awoke to a stead shaking of his branch, accompanied by the
499 words,
500 " We must away, ere break of day, as some more famous, if fictional
501 dwarves once said, ccording to Mr.Tolkien!!"
502 It was only then that Elforson noticed his friend's diminuative size,
503 not more than four feet tall.
504
505 Adric.
506 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
507
508 ### ###
509 A small boy heard the ocean roar,
510 "There are secrets on my distant shore
511 But beware my child the ships bell's wail,
512 Wait not too long to start the sail."
513
514 So quickly come and go the years
515 And a young adult stands abeach - with fears.
516 "Come on, come on," the ocean cussed .
517 "Time passes on, Oh sail you must."
518
519 Now it's business in middle - age prime
520 And maybe tomorrow there'll be time.
521 Now is too soon - It's raining today.
522 Gone, all gone - years are eaten away.
523
524 An old man looks out, still feeling the lure
525 Yet he'll suffer the pain than go for the cure.
526 The hair is white, the step's with care
527
528 So all too soon the secrets are buried
529 Along with him and regrets he carried
530 And it's not for loss of secrets he cried
531 But rather because he'd never tried.
532
533
534 << Nepenthe >>
535
536 PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
537 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
538 In the glow of a dying campfire a solitary figure watched
539 images form and reform in the glowing coals. His thoughts
540 turned to times past and friends long departed. His jouney
541 had seemed interminable, and perhaps it was. A sharp pain
542 woke him from his reverie, and he brushed the glowing coal
543 from his ragged and tattered kilt, then pushed another branch
544 onto the coals.
545 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
546 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
547 Adric here, I go for a little holiday in Washington, so the sto
548 ry of the Garden of the Gods must wait.Bye guys!
549 Adric.
550 _______________________________________________________________
551
552 I had it. I lost it. It's gone now. I'm dead.
553 _______________________________________________________________
554
555 Joseph Tough, a crack reporter, was told to ---- out the facts
556 in the case of a ---- accountant who had apparently murdered
557 his wife.
558 As Joe went out to ---- his informant, he noticed the day-old
559 snow was starting to ----.
560 "Hi, ----," Joe said when his source met him in the nearby
561 diner. The source, obviously nervous, spilled the ---- he had
562 ordered on his expensive ---- tie. After drying himself off,
563 Milt the informant started to describe the accountant who had
564 tried to ---- his wife out of the ---- of her inheritance.
565 When it looked as if she was going to ----. he took her for a
566 ---- through the Grand Canyon, and pushed her over a cliff.
567 When the police caught up with him, the accountant refused to
568 ----.
569 Milt swore his ---- was true, his face ---- with emotion.
570 Joseph shoved a ---- of greenbacks at him in payment for the
571 scoop, and walked the ---- back to his office to write up
572 the story.
573 mystery author
574 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
575
576 PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
577 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
578 Again I am called upon to prove myself. Just as well. I trust
579 in the ability of all who have had occasion to pass this way
580 to know th difference between my style and that of The Great
581 Pretender. But, it's a measur of trust lost on most, so I feel
582 that there is but one way to lay this issue to rest...
583
584 Prepare for the return of Nick Young, private eye...
585
586
587 PEN NAME
588 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
589 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
590 Welcome, sir Piper. Won't you play us a tune to which our
591 eyes and minds may dance?
592 .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.Emu
593 ############################################################################
594 Dozing in front of the warming fire, the Innkeeper through half closed lids
595 watched the flames flicker and dance before him. As he watched, the flames
596 seemd to take on shape and form. A grove of trees against a black backdrop.
597 In time a figure became visible just behind the flames A man much travel
598 worn and tired. He sat as if he were on the other sode of the flames of
599 the hearth itself. But of course that was not so, the rear of the hearth
600 was of the best firestone to be found, and not an open space.
601 Of course the stone did come from the quaries to the west, in an area known
602 to have great magics in the very earth itself. So perhaps there was something
603 to this image. Or maybe it is just the dreaming of an old and tired man,
604 his eyes playing tricks on him. The man on the other side of the flames
605 seemed familar though where from it was uncertain. The clothing was odd,
606 a dress? No, a kilt! ################# The Innkeeper ########################
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