1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask... 2 ************************* INSTALLED: 14 SEP 85 ********************** 3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator 4 ************************************************************ 5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION 6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM. 7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned 8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public. 9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is 10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which 11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be 12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved) 13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the 14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the 15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace 16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up. 17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system. 18 ************************************************************ 19 20 L'homme: One thing I might mention, is to not use the AMODEM XMODEM receive 21 function. If you do, check the file carefully after you do, it sometimes 22 drops the first sector in the transfer if it is NOT talking to aNOTher 23 AMODEM program. Just a small minor little compatiblity problem... 24 Also, of course make sure that you use the COPYLINK with the patches. 25 *************************** CISTOP MIKEY ********************************** 26 #$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#12:44#9/15#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$ENOUGH BORDER 27 ARG! new disk already! Now I gotta type some more! Oh well, it's a living(?). 28 And of course, I'm not going to brag about being AT THE TOP!!!. I'm just not that type (Hee-hee-hee) 29 And now, to start this disk off with a sour note... 30 31 ACT OF MERCY 32 (Part 3 of 3) 33 by John Silverman 34 35 Seven o'clock. 36 The TV was on low, playing some idiotic sit-com rerun. Mother was napping. Tim was sitting in the front room, writing 37 in a small spiral-bound notebook: 38 "I write this now as I don't think I'll get a chance to express my thoughts later and I want to tell my side of the story 39 I only hope somebody will be willing to listen." 40 "It started a year and a half ago. I was young and stupid then. I argued with my parents a lot. The neighbors a block 41 away could hear every word we said, so loud were out fights. One night, I was mad about something, I now forget what, and 42 and had started a particularly loud row. I didn't notice that Mom was quieter than usual, Dad was more than making up for 43 it. I finally called him a son of a bitch and said I was leaving and never coming back. Dad hit me, hard. Mom screamed 44 and collapsed on the couch.I was too hurt and mad to notice. I walked out, my Dad yelling that if I took the car he'd have 45 the cops after me. There were people all up and down the block watching the show. I yelled back at him to go ahead and 46 drove away." 47 "An hour later I calmed down enough to realize I couldn't leave because I didn't even have a job. I was going to 48 college at the time and didn't have the time for one. Finally I decided I'd better return home and face it. When I got 49 there, an ambulance was pulling out of the driveway. My Dad was standing in the doorway, staring at it like he was in shock. 50 I asked him what the hell was going on and he said Mom had just had a stroke. Then he proceeded to tell me at length about 51 how it was my fault. I finally couldn't take any more and just ran away into the night." 52 of recovery. The best we could do was take her home and try to make her remaining time as comfortable as possible." 53 "Right after that Dad started drinking. That's where most of this mess came from. He started missing days at work, too 54 drunk to get up on time. He never missed an opportunity to tell me it was all my fault. He punched me out more than once. 55 He really was a son of a bitch." 56 Tim stopped a moment to wipe a tear from one eye. Remembering this was no fun at all. 57 "One day he got in his car, drove off, and that was the last we ever saw of him. Can't really blame him. My only real 58 regret was that I didn't think of it first. But I didn't so I'm stuck." 59 "No Dad, no money. The insurance couldn't or wouldn't cover everything. School went out the window and I got a job at a 60 nearby market. Every penny I make goes into this house and all the bills, and still they send collectors around periodically. 61 Every month we get farther behind." 62 "I have been a breadwinner and nursemaid for over a year now in a situation I never wanted in the first place. Maybe 63 this is my fault, but I think I've paid my pennance. This house is a rathole because I'm simply too tired or too busy to 64 keep it up. I'm just too tired. I cannot get a decent job (I need to stay close to home), School is still out, hell, I 65 can't even dream of having a social life. No more. I have to change things, and this is the only way I know how." 66 "The family will probably renounce me. My few friends and aquantances will probably be shocked. I just want it understood 67 that I simply cannot come up with any alternatives. The quality of life for me cannot sink any lower, no matter what I do. 68 I have made my decision, and I refuse to regret it." 69 "Timothy Corbett" 70 He looked it over. Not bad, for a confession. It pretty much summed up everything. He got up and waded though 71 the garbage to the stereo. He put on his favorite album and started it, making his way back to the chair. For almost twenty 72 minutes he listened to the music. His attention caught on one particular line on one of the last songs: "I might as well 73 be (yper as long as I'm still around/I'll have plenty of time to be low-key when I'm six feet under ground." He had to laugh 74 at that. In fact, it was the funniest thing he had heard in a year and a half. He laughed until tears rolled down his cheeks. 75 When he finally quit laughing, he heard Mother, "Dear, I'm thirsty. Could you please bring me some punch?" 76 "Sure, Mom." He was still wiping his eyes as he went into the kitchen. The Jug had a little in it, about enough for two 77 drinks. He set out two cups and filled them. He pulled the bottle out of his pocket and poured a measured amount into one 78 of them. His heart pounded in his ears as he did so. Despite all his resolve, he was still scared. He had studied this 79 particular chemical and knew it would work quickly and painlessly. He did not want to have to deal with unnecessary suff 80 ering. Making damn sure which cup was which, he carried them both into the bedroom. 81 "Here you go." he said, handing her her drink. "I propose a toast." He declared. 82 "To what?" she asked. 83 "To life." He said simply. He tapped his cup against hers and drank deeply. After a moment's confusion, so did she." 84 "This tastes funny." she remarked. 85 "Yeah, it's the plumbing. Something's wrong with it. makes the water taste strange." He could taste it, too. 86 "Will you be a dear and have it looked at tomorrow?" she asked. 87 "Sure." he replied, knowing perfectly well he wouldn't. "I'm gonna go watch some TV, OK?" 88 "Sure," she said, laying back. "I feel kind of sleepy." 89 Tim stopped at the door and turned around. "Mom?" 90 "Yes?" 91 "I love you." 92 "I love you too, dear." she yawned. 93 Tim waded through the mess back to his chair. On the way, he flipped the record and played the other side. He sat down 94 and picked up the notebook, setting it in his lap. He closed his eyes, lost in his favorite music. It was twenty to eitght. 95 At eight o'clock the phone rang. Seven rings later, a sleepy voice called out, "Timmy, would you please answer that? 96 It must be my mother and I can't reach it in here. Timmy?" 97 "Timmy?" 98 99 JOHN SILVERMAN 100 #$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#1:32#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$# 101 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 102 Entropy -- So glad to see you back, happy! 103 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 104 Adventurers -- too rushed for an entry this am -- will try tomorrow if the 105 situation doesn't change too much. 106 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 107 TO ALL MODEM OWNERS: 108 I JUST GOT A MODEM AND WOULD APPRECIATE IT GREATLY IF ANYONE COULD LEAVE SOME BULLITEN BOARD NUMBERS. 109 THANKS 110 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 111 He wandered in 112 from lands far away 113 picked his target 114 and stalked the prey 115 when the excitement 116 of the contest wore out 117 he raised his sword 118 and killed the trout. 119 120 -Palor- 121 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 122 To: Thanks 123 From:Palor 124 Subject:BBS #s 125 It would help very much if you left your name, the type of computer you own and the baud capabilities of your 126 modem. Also, where you live, so I can suggest LOCAL BBSs. Nevertheless, here are a few of my favorites. 127 +++++ 128 BackWater, of course 129 Bit Bucket 254-xxxx 300/1200 24 hrs 130 K.I.S. Net 777-xxxx 300 24 hrs 131 Engineers1 692-xxxx 3/12/24 24 hrs 132 OswegoFido 636-xxxx 3/12/24 24 hrs 133 PCS/BBS 775-xxxx 3/12/24 24 hrs 134 RainForest 245-xxxx 3/12/24 24 hrs 135 292-xxxx <=- * 175 * ------------ + 176 + **Thanks a lot** * 177 * Todd Henderson + 178 + * 179 \*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+/ 180 181 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 182 Sigh.... A new disk, and hardly anything but junk on it. 183 What happened to all the great stories??? 184 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Rick 185 [/] 186 **************************************************************************** 187 Rick, I would hardly call Mr. Silvermans story junk! 188 ***********************13moredays***kathyd********************************* 189 .,-=-,.,-=-,.,-=-,.,-=-,.,-=-,.,-=-,. 190 Well, I have been asked by the Sysop 191 of K.I.S. Net to find potential places 192 that the writers of TANIS might be 193 hiding while the TANIS b-board section 194 is being written. 195 I figure this is as good a place as 196 any for writers with not much to do. So 197 those that either can't get on here to 198 often, or have a story and can't wait 199 for TANIS to get going again, there is 200 another alternative. 201 Yes, the old Alternate World has 202 gone, but it it's place has risen a new 203 and better thing known as K.I.S. Net. 204 It has all of your favorite features 205 including a B-board, and soon to come 206 an XMODEM file transfer section.... 207 Give it a call when there is nothing 208 better to do. You will be surprised at 209 the progress that the sysop has made on 210 changing over from a (GASP!!!) Illegal 211 format..., But don't let that scare you 212 away, the system is completely legal 213 and he even voice validates alot of 214 the time... 215 Anyway, give it a call, it's 216 777-xxxx same number, different format. 217 Thanx, 218 Eric Stevenson... 219 .,-=-,.,-=-,.,-=-,.,-=-,.,-=-,.,-=-,. 220 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 221 Mr. Silverman: Bravo! I would have been much more surprised about the ending 222 if it weren't for the fact that I own that particular album. The song was 223 "I'll be Mellow when I'm Dead"- a favorite of mine. Keep writing! 224 ++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++ 15 Sept 85, 2:28pm ++++++++++++++ 225 {+|+} (091585182250) <225> 226 227 ################################################################# 228 Things seemed to have quieted down a bit, so the InnKeeper 229 wandered out the front door to get some fresh air for a moment. 230 Stepping outside, the fresh rain scrubbed air felt good as I 231 drew a deep breath. Looking around, I noticed that things hadn't 232 really changed all that much from so long ago. 233 It seems like it had been ages since first obtaining this 234 establishment as a dwelling, and later opening it to the public 235 as a meeting place, and later at the urging of a good friend, as 236 the Inn. It's hard to believe that it really has only been a few 237 short years. 238 So much has happened, people coming and going. Some gaining 239 interest and others losing it. The always prevelant arguments and 240 fights that occur in any public place. The friends, and yes, even 241 the enemies. The stories, the tales of adventure and intrigue. 242 Wandering out into the courtyard, my feet lead me of their 243 own accord towards the small foot-bridge that crosses the stream 244 flowing nearby. Leaning on the railing, I think back on the 245 memories that it brings, times of old. What has happened to the 246 gentle adventures of those days, where have they gone? What new 247 quests do they pursue? Unknowingly my eyes turn to the Rowan tree 248 growing outside the Inn. Scared and hagered, but still standing 249 proudly. Planted there so long ago. 250 Ah, Pam, my old friend, where have you gone? Off on some new 251 trek? Keeping the tables of another Inn clean? Will I ever see 252 your words again? The Rowan tree yet grows there still. Reaching 253 inside my worn cotten shirt, I pull the locket out, still there 254 imbeded in the glass is the small twig of the Rowan, given in 255 promise of not leaving. An anchor to ward off the doubt. Ah my 256 friend, what cruel winds have driven you from this land? 257 The surface of the stream ripples, and the reflection of a 258 full rising moon echos times long past, and I am looking through 259 another's eyes, of another time. 260 Turning away, I place the locket back inside my shirt, and 261 head back to the Inn. Stepping inside, it seems so quiet, it is 262 empty somehow without this old friend. Going behind the bar, I 263 pour myself a drink from a bottle from my private wine stock. 264 I can't drown my depression, but maybe I can at least avoid it 265 for a while. 266 ########################### The InnKeeper ####################### 267 268 @@@Max@@@ 269 /\/\/\ 270 Hmmm.. 271 /\/\/\ 272 OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!FINE! 273 I go to call the famous Bit Bucket, the one that we have all heard 274 so much about, but it just sits there when I connect. not a sign 275 of life to be seen. Nothing that I do can spring it into life. 276 Is this the system that is so popular? I gues it leave A WHOLE LOT 277 of room for your personal imagination! Personaly, I like a system 278 that will communicate with you, even if it is telling you that what 279 you are saying doesn't mean a thing to it. SO! if you haven't guessed 280 by now I would like for someone to tell my in detail how to get the 281 Bit Bucket going like it should. Sitting watching a blank screen 282 has gotten on my nerves! especialy since that if I don't call pretty 283 soon my password will be dleted again and THAT really gets me pissed! 284 OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!FINE! 285 286 !!!!!!!!!!!! 287 Sadly, purposefully, FINE your problem may be your quickness to anger 288 and lack of proper settings. Try again! It maybe your were calling in 289 as the system was trying to call out....or you just may have negleted 290 to give it the c/r's it needs to set baud and parity..... 291 the newcommer 292 !!!!!!!!!!!!! 293 OKAY!!!FINE - I called Bit Bucket today and received the same response as you. 294 As I am NOT a neophyte, I presume that the Bucket is experiencing 295 another of its all-too-frequent down times again. Patience. 296 +Dante- 297 298 .-.-.-. 299 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 300 When last seen, our hero(ine) was disguised as a Japanese earmuff salesman 301 on a doomed flight from Portland to Australia (via the unscheduled and 302 unfriendly skies of Albania). Unfortunately for Petrov, the unsavory sort who 303 chose to exercise their freedom of expression on the flight in question had an 304 odd penchant for hanging humans of Japanese descent upside and down and naked 305 over porcelain bathing devices. The surprising fact that the airplane was 306 somehow devoid of such objects would have been a favorable one were it not for 307 the ingenuity of the hijackers who found a suitable substitute in another 308 traditionally porcelain mechanism occupying a small room towards the rear of 309 the craft. 310 The ensuing drama proved to be too shocking and terrible for the hijackers 311 to recount, but witnesses report that Petrov seemed to enjoy himself as his 312 captors removed his dress and associated feminine attire, discovering his true 313 colors. 314 No one knows what caused the Airplane enroute from Australia to Albania to 315 crash into the recently rebuilt Oklahoma City Hilton which was celebrating its 316 grand re-opening after an unexplained explosion devastated the building in the 317 summer of 1984, but Petrov's survival was, to say the least, neat. 318 319 Thus begins a new chapter in the life of Petrov. Before we proceed, it 320 must be understood that no telling of Petrov's tale could be complete without 321 an adequate understanding of my own; and if Petrov's story is actually a 322 confession, then mine must be too. 323 My name is Mitsubishi Cannelloni and, as my name suggests, I come from a 324 long line of Jewish hot dog salesmen. After the fatal crash a bruised and 325 battered Russian stumbled out from the wreckage and walked by me. I never saw 326 him again, but I heard the airplane story from another survivor of the crash. 327 Indeed, Petrov's life would have been radically different were it not for my 328 timely intervention! 329 330 --From CONFESSIONS OF A TRANSVESTITE'S ACCOMPLICE 331 (or, "Hot dogs, hot broads, and how to spread mustard on each") 332 By Mitsubishi Cannelloni 333 sort of Petrov 334 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 335 sorry, ch/upside and down/upside down/ 336 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 337 338 339 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 340 341 ************* 342 343 The cafe 344 //////////// 345 The Cafeteria was crowed when Donna and I arrived and it was task 346 enough to get food , let alone make good selections as we passed through 347 the line. Now to find a place to sit! Ah , a table with two empty seats 348 and a familier face. It was Michael, the new imaging tech and a young, 349 female in white. He was gesturing to us to come and join him. As we took 350 our seats he introduced us to a new intensive care nurse. Al, Donna, I 351 want you to meet Susan.... hmmmm I heard his words through the din of 352 lunch time noises but somehow they did not sink in . I was studying the 353 lines around her mouth and the dark bangs above her green eyes.... 354 Like waves rolling in on a peaceful shore , my heart rose and sank 355 as she began to speak of her life. A child, my spirits sank, father on the 356 east coast, my heart jumped, boyfriend up north, I felt dispair, did not 357 see him except on weekends, hope sprang up. As I was asked questions about 358 my own role here and my life's interest, I felt a warmness in my face. 359 I was blushing! 360 All too soon, my pager sprang to life...trauma code team was being called 361 to the ED.....! Life is never fair but timely... 362 ************** 363 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 364 The scene in the pell-mell was mass confusion. The unconcious piper had 365 gone into convulsions, and was twisting and writhing like a freshly-beached 366 trout. The lady who was found with him was also unconcious and bleeding 367 badly, with two of the company bent over her. Some of the adventurers 368 were trying to move the machine from this perilous realm, others to minister 369 to the needs of the wounded. Many of the rescuers who had ventured out on 370 the surface were feeling less than fully fit. Although brief, a soujour 371 in that place brought the body's metabolism to a complete halt -- restored 372 only reluctantly when they re-entered the pell-mell. 373 Without, the scene was less comprehensible. The bizarre vehicle floated 374 some small distance above the black surface, moving slightly due to some 375 slight imbalance in the propulsion units. The black pavement stretched off 376 into infinity on each side, unmarked except where the piper and the lady 377 had vowed their suicide pact. There, where the blood of the two had mingled 378 and dripped on the pavement, something seemed to violate the strange laws 379 of this unusual place. It seemed almost like a solid cloud -- the edges 380 diffusing into the general glow of the surroundings, but dark within. 381 Unmoving, the smudge marked where the piper and the lady had lain, where 382 the very fabric of the two reality bands had frayed, where the sharp 383 demarcation between the two realities broke down and mixed the two in an 384 inchoate stew. Slowly the pell-mell drifted into this zone. 385 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 386 ch soujour/soujourn, zap other typos! 387 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 388 389 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 390 391 OFF 392 88888888 LINE 364 IS AN OVERKILL. WHAT ELSE IS "PELL-MELL"? 888888888 393 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 394 You need not look through the eye's of strangers dear inkeep. Remembering 395 the eyes and hearts and souls of friends is much more pleasent. It is true I 396 have ventured far and wide since I last visited the Inn, but your calls of 397 lonliness have tugged at my mind and they have brought me back to the place 398 I will always call home. 399 Fear not that you have caused my departure from the place of the Rowan 400 tree. It is in my heart that I glide away from the Inn, only to return when 401 I hear a friend call. I have travelled far and wide, but I never forget the 402 one place that I call home. 403 I too remember so much of the past, and I strain to keep those lovely 404 memories alive when my senses are besieged by so much anger and contempt in 405 the air. I strive to remember the past, but I temper my strive with thoughts 406 and hopes for the future. To dwell too much in the past is to live a life with 407 no future. I can not face such a life, for I need the excitement and 408 uncertainty of unknown futures. I will never forget what has transpired here 409 at the Inn,. I will fondly remember good times sitting and talking with many 410 a great visitor. I made friends I will never forget. Dearest Innkeeper, you 411 too are my friend. 412 I will come this way again sometime. I don't know when, I only know I 413 will. I will not pass by the Rowan tree without taking a sprig. I won't 414 pass by the Inn without stepping inside and greeting all who are present. I 415 will come back and see you, if for just a moment. 416 417 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM.[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 418 ******************************************************************* 419 On the way down the hall my mind was speeding through memories of 420 another girl. As impressed as I was with the one I just met, I was 421 just sick about the one I had just said goodbye to. She was small, 422 brown haired and brown eyed. To me, the absolutely perfect person 423 to just stare at in awe. I was at the stage where I could think 424 of her without wanting to die, but just barely. 425 No one gave me a glance when I entered the Emergency room. On 426 the second stretcher a code was already in progress. I grabbed 427 a syringe , found a thready pulse, and drove home the needle... 428 My job is so much fun! We worked on this patient for an hour with 429 no perceptable result. Tiredly, the ER Doc said,'that's enough and 430 shuffled off to see his next patient. Back in my office, work was 431 waiting for me. I grabbed the dirty equipment which was my 432 responsibilty and left the Emergency Department. 433 It wasn't as though I did not have enough problems in my life 434 without falling in love. It wasn't as though I really thought 435 this newcommer would give me a second thought. It wasn't as 436 though I was over my last love, or free from my current one. 437 But somehow I knew Ii was about to seriously complicate things 438 again. 439 440 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// 441 [\] 442 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 443 "The dream, The Dream. Let the fresh aire fill you with 444 new and tranquil thoughts. Cast aside doubt." The voice was a shallow one 445 and difficult one to hear. I was not of this place, yet still I heard. 446 "The dream? But this is the dream. What... why?" 447 There was no further responce. Now I will go to sleep and put reality be- 448 hind me. Perhaps, one day, I might return. On that day I shall be fully 449 prepared to listen for the voice that doesn't exist. I will have to seek 450 solice in others until that time. 451 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ --->the Guardian 259:16 452 453 (((*))) 454 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455 All (or more properly addressed to "Some"): Must we continue to post 456 endless lines of messages that call us to other boards. There are many 457 reasons for visiting the Inn, but most likely reading advertisments is not 458 one of them. For certain, all those who are interested in other BBSs will 459 call other BBSs and they will see your long messages there. CBBS/NW would 460 be a perfect place to put them. There are some who may not care about any 461 board but this one, and they have no desire to read about what other 462 wonderful boards are springing up. 463 Please excused my frusterated lack of tact, but coming to visit the Inn 464 and finding almost half of it filled with what I consider of "low creativity 465 level" is not enjoyable. -Tanya 466 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 468 469 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 470 as always, trainor's words were spoken with sincerety, hope, and the 471 altruistic manner of any great spokesman. one thing that needed remembering 472 was although he is a representative, he also is the only remaining survivor 473 of his civilization. his effort and vitality to see us through had given me 474 more than just a little bit of confidence in myself. 475 "we are adults here," he had once said. "what we do here, we do for all. 476 if anything goes wrong, we learn." i had looked up to him from the moment i 477 set foot inside the inn. that had not changed. 478 now i am faced with an actual task that only i may take on. before me lies 479 the body of the other person we found in the unknown. both the piper and 480 this one had slipped into the icy coldness of their own black sleep. while 481 all around the pushing and pulling of sanity and reason strived to exist. 482 the others and i clammered back to our sanctuary of the pell-mell. once 483 returned to the mechanized marvel, minds began to settle as others prepared 484 for some miraculous departure from this hideous reality. 485 once regrouped with emu, trainor would learn all the details discovered 486 within the last several minutes. the others had gone to their seperate corners 487 and compartments, or were carried there to regain their energies -- both 488 mental and physical. 489 in a seperate compartment from the rest are the two women. i am now to 490 become the protector of this lifeforce known only to us as zeb. alone in the 491 stillness of a closed room, hearing only the faint breaths over the silent 492 air supply, i survey this being. 493 small and young in apperance, she is not unlike myself. i carefully pulled 494 aside the electro-blankets and the grey robe that covered her. her wound was 495 a simple one, except the position so close to the heart made me fear that her 496 life came close to an end. it was definitely self inflicted. i wondered how 497 she had indeed managed to live after it. i threw the now crimsoned fabric 498 away from the wound completely and bagan to administer what little bedside 499 manner and medical aid i could. 500 with that finished, i drew the blankets snuggly up to her chin to keep her 501 body warm. her mind would be another matter, what i could do for her there 502 was beyond me. no... it was only almost beyond. 503 ever since we had arrived within this final plane of awareness, i despised 504 the thought that i had a mind that could be responsible for deeds beyond the 505 ken of normal man. what disturbing feats were now possible? tp? esp? obe's? 506 curled into a little ball across from the relaxed figure i decided to chance my 507 newly realized 'gift' with her. if i could look into her thoughts, maybe even 508 her dreams, i just might learn something about our present prediciment. 509 remembering how emu and cragomre had taken their places for the original 510 sitting in the circle, i uncurled myself and sat with my back aligned with the 511 smooth surface of the wall inside this compartment. i took a few soft breaths 512 and tried to clear my mind of everything other than zeb. i soon felt the 513 i soon felt the gentle touch of drowsiness tug at my sensabilities. through 514 my closed eyes i saw a light shine over us, the prismatic light of a rainbow. 515 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& the scarlet lion 516 517 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 518 It had been a while since the sounds of battle faded away, and suddenly we 519 notice that the sweat covering us makes the night seem cold. The fire near us 520 is burning still, but fading slowly. It gives light but no real warmth. There 521 is but one blanket, and we huddle beneath it in exhaustion. 522 The normal barriers evaporate into the clean air along with our sweat. For 523 the moment we have set aside our weapons and the light conversation that is 524 really just politeness. The words come fast, pushed by the fresh scent of 525 battle. We talk of youth, fear, family, lost loves, and recent scars. 526 Finally the cascade of words turns to a trickle, then to nothing. We lay in 527 comfortable silence, eash lost in our own thoughts. 528 Eventually she turns to me, and with a sudden smile, she grabs my hair and 529 pulls my lips to hers. 530 531 The battle begins again. 532 Adrian 533 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 534 Looks like I've finally recovered from that sex-change operation... 535 It's good to be back. 536 Adrian 537 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ETC.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 538 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 539 Scarlet lion -- Would you like me to "run" the zeb lady? If not, she's 540 all yours. 541 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 542 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 543 544 %j%j&j&j&j&j7J7J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J& 545 "Low creativity" works and "endless lines" of ads are PREFERABLE than ultra-long 546 dull utter nonsense. Perhaps some people never thought that their master- 547 pieces are boring when they wrote it. 548 As T.E. Gould put it: "We Are Seldom Tiresome to Ourselves." 549 550 J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&jon &omeJ&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J&J& 551 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 552 If you don't like it, then don't call! Stories are what BW is about, 553 not the endless/mindless rabble of "For Sale" ect. There are more 554 than enough boards around for that sort of thing. Just because you 555 don't like every story here doesn't mean that everyone else has to 556 dislike them. I am not always enlightened by every story that passes 557 here myself, but I'd take them anyday over the non-creative blandishments 558 of "give me BBS numbers" and "call my neat BBS". 559 ============================= fred ================================= 560 {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} 561 Pam, is there anything that we can do to change 562 your mind and talk you into continue contribut- 563 ing here? I really hate to see you go, there are 564 so few women on here that it is painful when one 565 leaves. - a friend 566 {}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{} 567 =---------------------------------VShoG-------------------------= 568 Perhaps you couldn't compreend some of the words. Which 569 ones were they? altruistic? porcelain? or something else? 570 Or was it one of the real toughies, like 'the' or 'with'? 571 Created without knowing its destiny, this place has taken 572 upon itself to be a story telling area. God knows that there are 573 already enough e-mail boards in this town. Why be normal? 574 =---------------------------------VShoG-------------------------= 575 576 *************************************************************************** 577 Well now! We have an imitator in our midst it seems. The entry above (lines 578 393-417) supposedly by PAM is not by the PAM we know. Those who do know her 579 will quickly see the differences if they study the entry. Simple things such 580 as that she uses 76 column entries not 80. And her grammer and spelling are 581 far better than that shown in the indicated entry. Another thing that was 582 pointed out is that it is "eyes" not "eye's". It was a fair simulation however, 583 and obviously caught a few people. I wonder why though that someone felt that 584 they had to speak for her? 585 ***************************** CISTOP MIKEY *********************************** 586 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 587 "Be careful, now, Milch. I don't want a zombie on my hands. Besides, what 588 would I do with Grann?" 589 "You'd teach him all of your degenerate mannerisms, that's what. Don't fret, 590 Doctor, this probe won't be dangerous. Besides, with this little powerpack," 591 I patted the pile of argentium before me, "I have enough energy available to 592 get out of any trouble I can possibly get into." I lowered my voice so no one 593 could hear. "If I can channel it all without burning out." 594 "I'm still worried, but I'll live. Arriving at optimum contact point in 595 twenty seconds. Start doing your stuff, Grann. This had better work, Milch." 596 "It will." Grann began the ritual for planal shifting. I was proud of his 597 progress- not many pupils could hold up under the acid-test conditions of the 598 past few days. To think that this all started with a little trip to gather 599 material for a transportal chamber... 600 S>H>I>F>T. A bit rough, but nicely done regardless. Time for my bit now. 601 "Arkady weldalan irisculdo durocawdi buratin!" My surroundings faded out 602 slowly as I sat cross-legged on the floor of the control room. I was a point 603 of thought floating in a black void. 604 Concentrate. Points of light appear slowly, turning the void into the 605 appearance of deep space. Each little point represented an intelligence, an 606 active mind. Push harder. Motion begins, not in any real sense, but my point 607 of view shifts and nears the outlet of the convolution. The points darken and 608 fade entirely. Entry. 609 A stomach-wrenching pull, vertigo. Incredible speed down a round shaft of 610 color and light. I try to slow, but I am caught. There is no harm yet, so I 611 do not fight it. 612 Slowing down, exit. Greyness first, then a wash of crimson and then I am 613 through. A flat plane of black material, embedded with millions upon millions 614 of little flecks of light. 615 A strange machine floats above the convolution. Perhaps cause of disturbance? 616 Possiblity noted, action when more data appears. I scan the craft. 617 Life exists there. Intelligence shows itself. No surprise, craft shows 618 exterior examples of... well, let's not go into that. Ahem. 619 Reaching, reaching... Contact. He is aware of me. Mental Shields up quickly. 620 I pause, and send a quick "mindprint" to allow him to identify me. He returns 621 one. Cragmore is his name. Concern floats on top of his mind, for a friend. 622 Name...name... leaks through shield, concern is too strong. Pi...Piper?! 623 I drop all of my defenses. #I am Milchar, or at least a projection. Perhaps 624 I can offer a means of escaping this zone. The convolution will serve as a 625 conduit. I should be able to hold it open as you go, but not for long.# 626 ++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++ 17 Sept 85, 10:58pm ++++++++++++ 627 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv 628 I fear to say that you are correct Marv. This IS serious. 629 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvPAULvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629