LIST
FILE ON
MARGIN IS 80 
STATUS: ENTER ONLY
NUMBER OF LINES: 629 
1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask...
2 ********************** REMOVED: 14 MAY 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 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
21  gee whiz....              MADE IT TO THE TOP! (again...)
22 
23 MIKE MAXSON (known to the BW as "PHOENIX"):
24   A reply to your questions:
25 a) "I am working on my own BBS hope to finnish it real soon what do you 
26   think of this????" [un-caps mine]
27    Well, Mr. Maxson, I can only say that I am overjoyed. With any luck, your
28   duties as SYSOP (such as removing "MASG"'s of the quality you leave here
29 from your system) will keep you sufficiently busy (and entertained) to 
30 remove, or at least detain you from OUR system. Good luck.
31 
32 b) "Ive been on this board for a few days now, what do you think of 
33 PHOENIX??????????????????????" [un-caps mine]
34    As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Maxson, PHOENIX can find another round, warm
35 "PLANT" to take over. With ATARI in hand. Good day.
36 
37 An after-thought, Mr. Maxson. "I did not mean to make people hate me.  I just
38 wanted to play along with the users??????"  I truly feel sorry for you. You
39 have an unpleasant, failure-ridden life ahead; I sincerly hope that you can
40 muster what little intellect you have and attempt to modify your rather 
41 warped perspective of what people consider acceptable behavior before you 
42 lose whatever chance you have for a reasonable facsimile of a normal life.
43  As to "From now on I will be trying to leave good information about 
44 computers, modems, BBS, and world news.", please, Mr. Maxson, leave it on
45 another system. (Preferably PMS) Thank you.
46                                                      Aaron
47 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
48 WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
49 My, isn't it a little early to be so unpleasant?
50 Say, does anyone out there have an extra copy of "Cowboy Bob's Odes to 
51 a Bifurcated Turtle"?
52                                         Mikey: thanks for correcting 
53 privately.
54                       Webster
55 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
56 PHOENIX, TRY TO FORGIVE AARON. HE IS VERY UPSET; AND HASN'T HAD HIS NAP.--MOTHER
57 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
58 **************************************************************
59 Voyeur: You're right. I do have to admit the story lines are 
60 rather slow...dreadfully slow. Perhaps you guys should get a
61 conspiracy going to add a little direction. Too bad Mohammed 
62 and Contremon Valerius drifted off into the sunset; they 
63 seemed to have a knack for keeping things moving. Grand D.
64 *************************************************************
65 ???>????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
66 Aaron:someplace around here I`have a printout of yours,150+ lines by`which you said,in essence,live`and let live.
67 do NOT in any circumstance follow this,I enjoyed your message to "phoenex" VERY VERY much.any word on the 212A docs??
68 All:after spending 100+ bucks on little black thingies for my heating unit,I can say this,they are WAY too expensive.
69 Grand D.:Dave Russle(contrimon v and general M) still lives in portland but has no time for the Backwater,maybe he will again 
70 someday.
71 Warrior Eserhaudin:are you lurking here??
72 Hawthorn:did I ever get a Nerd password to you?? as I remember,I was going to mail it because you were in a "555" prefix,LD fro
73 both me and Michael.did I do so?
74 The Man in Gray
75 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
76 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
77 Voyeur was bored.  Bored, bored, bored.  All his old friends, Bard, Piper, apprentice, Man in Gray, Mad Actor, all seemed
78 to be involved in activities of their own, and didn't visit the Inn much any more.  All that was left, it seemed, was a
79 lot of juveniles and their pet gerbils and hamsters.  "Well", he thought,"maybe a game of solitaire."  He dug into his pack,
80 and pulled out a soggy mass of cardboard. "Drat! I'm going to have to talk to White Stag about their waterproofing."  Making
81 enquiries, he discover that no one else in the Inn had a deck they were willing to loan.  'Guess it's time to check out that
82 store down the road.'  He strolled down the road for a while, until he came to a building from which hung a sign:
83 'Ye Olde Shoppe of Ye Antiquities and Ye Curiosities'.
84 'Stuff was probably new when they started making that sign' he thought to himself, noting its length.  Entering, he had to 
85 pause while his eyes adjusted to the dimness, and to wipe the cobwebs from his face. Looking around, he spied a wizened old
86 man with bright eyes, grinning at him from behind a dusty, battered counter.  "Don't hurt me pets, now" he cackled as Voyeur
87 pulled a wandering spider from beneath his jerkin. The old man continued "don't git many cust'mers here any more, since the
88 accident."  "What accident", Voyeur questioned, when the old man stopped.  "Eh?  Oh, never mind.  My mind was wandering.
89 Getting old, you know.  So, is there something I can find for you, or are you just here to see where it happened?".  "Where
90 WHAT happened?"  The old man didn't answer.  "Well, I was wondering if you might have a deck of cards I could buy."  The old
91 mans eyes gleamed.  "Cards?  Why, I do believe I have some here somewheres."  He disappeared into the back of the shop for a
92 while, then finally returned, brushing the dust from something in his hand.  "I acquired these quite some time ago" he said,
93 handing them to Voyeur.  He went on with some story about princes and feuds, Voyeur listening with half an ear while he 
94 inspected the cards.  'That old fool!  These are Tarot cards!' he thought.  'But what exquisite workmanship!'  The covers
95 had a picture of a unicorn facing left, rearing back.  He thumbed through the cards, until he came to the Greater Trumps.
96 They were Cold, bearing the images of real-seeming people.  He studied one.  It was of a man with black hair, green eyes,
97 dressed in silver and black, with a clasp at his neck in the form of a silver rose.  The more Voyeur studied the card, the
98 more lifelike the image became.  Suddenly it moved and spoke.
99 "Who is it?"  Voyeur stood frozen, until the figure reached Out, took his hand, and pulled him through.
100 ::::::::::::::::::::O O::::::::voyeur:::::::::O O:::::::::::::::::::
101 :*************************************************************:
102 Voyeur: Beware of cards 13, 13, 15, & 16. Danger lurks. Grand D
103 :*************************************************************:
104 *************************************************************
105 HELLO GUYS!GUESS WHO THIS IS?********************************
106 ******************************IF YOU CAN YOU GET $100 DOLLARS IN FREE CASH..
107           YOU DON'T ENEN HAVE TO PAY TAX!
108 GIVING YOU ONE CHANCE!
109 HA HA YOU MISSED IT'S ME THE PHANTOM WRITTER!!!!!
110 *************************************************************
111 Does anyone know my Real name, if so drop me a message on here to the :
112            Phantom Writter
113             ************
114 Hey!Who wants Fred Smith for president?
115 Do you want Pheonix for President?
116 ********Taking nominations now!********************************
117 Votes need to be in by Satuarday!******************************
118 ////////////
119 
120 ///////////       ////    ////    ////////////////
121    //            ////////////    //////
122   //            ///     ////    /////////////////
123 ***    **     ********      **************
124 ** ** **     **    **      **         ***
125 ** ** **     **    **      ** ***********
126 **   **      ********      **           **
127 **   **      ********      ****************
128 sloppy huh?
129 it's suppose to say the MOB!!!!
130 bye everybody!
131   
132   MAN IN GREY:NO.AND TO MAKE IT
133 EASIER STILL THE AREA CODE 
134 503.HASSAT FER FAST SERVICE?
135   SORRY OVER THE FACT THAT THIS
136 ONE HAS A 32 CHAR COLUMN.WORKIN-
137 G ON FINDING A TERMINAL PROGRAM
138 WITH AT LEAST 85 PER LINE.SO FAR
139 THE ONLY PROBLEMS ARE GETTING TO
140 THE ONE STORE THAT WOULD HAVE
141 ONE.MAYBE TODAY...
142   UNTIL I DO I WILL GO BACK TO
143 TRYING TO DIFFERENCIATE THE NUM.
144 OF CHAR ON THE LINES.SO HERE WE
145 GO.
146   IN FINAL I AWAIT THE NERDOLUX
147 PASS IN THE SAME FEELING THAT I
148 HAD WHILE FIRST DISCOVERING ALL
149 THE SYSTEMS HEREABOUTS.WELL TILL
150 THE NEXT ADVENTURE.
151   HAWTHORNE
152 
153   NOT PARTICULARLY FOND OF THE
154 IDEA OF WATCHING MILCHAR WHO BY
155 NOW HAD LOST THE DRINKING MATCH
156 AND PASSED OUT.THE FORMER STOOD
157 AND POUNDED HIS WAY TO THE DOOR
158 .HE MUST HAVE BEEN WONDERING
159 JUST WHEN HE COULD REFORM.BEING
160 8 FOOT 6 AND VERY HEAVY WAS GET-
161 TING TO BE TIRESOME.
162   MAYBE I'LL FOLLOW THE VOYEUR
163 WHEREEVER HE WENT THOUGHT THE
164 FORMER.AS HE CLUTCHED THE TOP OF
165 THE SWINGING DOORS THAT HELD
166 BACK THE SLIGHT CHILLY BREAZE
167 OF INNISFAL.CLUTCHING THEM HE
168 COULD ALMOST SWEAR THAT HIS HAND
169 WAS STICKING TO IT.
170   PEERING WITH A REDICULOUS CUR-
171 IOUS LOOK ABOUT HIM HE SPIED A
172 PEICE OF PARCHMENT STUCK TO THE
173 DOORS BY RIGHT OF A GUM BRUSHED
174 ACROSS THE DOOR.READIN UPSIDE
175 DOWN WAS STRANGE BUT THE FORMER
176 MANAGED.
177   --TO INNKEEPER--
178   --FROM A NEARBY RETAILER,IT
179 HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THROUGH
180 FREINDS AT ANOTHER REALITY THAT
181 THERE IS A MAN COMING TO  THIS
182 OUR REALITY CLAIMING TO BE THE
183 RIGHTFUL OWNER OF THIS INN.
184   --FREINDS ALSO TELL ME OF A
185 CERTAIN BAND OF FOLLOWERS THAT
186 WITH WHICH HE INTENDS TO TAKE
187 BACK THE INN BE FORCE.KNOWING
188 HOW THE FREQUENTORS OF YOUR FINE
189 BUSINESS ARE SOMEWHAT PROTECTIVE
190 OF IT,AND THE,ER UH AHEM,HELP.
191 WELL THEY ALSO TEND TO GET CARR-
192 IED AWAY A BIT AND I QUITE UNDE-
193 RSTANDABLY DONT WANT MY BUSINESS
194 DEMOLISHED BY A STRAY FIRE STORM
195   --I SUGGEST YOU MEET HIM WITH
196 ALL OF HIS CLAIMS OUT ASUNDER,IF
197 INDEED HE DOES NOT LISTEN TO
198 REASON THAN PLEASE TELL YOUR
199 FAITHFUL NEIGHBORS BEFORE HE AND
200 HIS BAND GERT HERE.
201   --HE IS CURRENTLY IN THE EARS-
202 TWHILE REALITY STOPPED ON A PLA-
203 NET MASS DESIGNATED V'LACKOTRE.I
204 AM NOT SURE WHERE.
205   --A LOYAL NEIGHBOR
206 
207 
208   THE FORMERS BROW WENT UP WITH
209 A START V'LACKOTRE?THE PLACE
210 FROM WHENCE HE JUST LEFT!?!HE
211 MUST FIND THE OTHERS!
212 
213 
214   FORMER
215 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
216 WHO LEFT THE TV ON?                                                --MOTHER     
217 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
218 $@%*($)*%)#$!^*)#*^)*^!)#*^)!*^)!#*^)%*&^)&*)@*&%)$*&)$%*&@)*$@!*)*%$)&*%)&*)&!&
219 Aaron:Watch out for balloon assaults on late night Trimet buses. You never
220 know what kind of board people are after. Regarding floating point accels.,
221 let's race. Optimized F77 and Pascal against anything you can muster. And may
222 the 'puter with the most MIPS win!
223 $#*@)%*#$
224 FORMER:Do you realize how much disk space you waste with those 40 character
225 lines you use? I am with TMA. The bigger the line length the better. Let's
226 at least get it up to 80, if not more.
227 %$#%#@%@%
228 Voyeur: Lovely! Never have I read such a good story line regarding the Tarot
229 since "StarShip Troopers". Now if I could only think of an original way to
230 follow you into your story. I could have myself pulled into the computer
231 screen, but that would sound too much like Tron (listening Aaron?) What about
232 one of the "johns" at PSU actually being a mult-demensional time-space vortex
233 in disguise? Naw... I know...
234 $%%)*#$)%*
235 The drive out to Tek would be a boring one for sure...Except for the
236 mild excitement at the 217 interchange. But wait...what's this guy in the
237 Mazda here next to me trying to do? Maybe this guy wants to race??? Well I'll
238 give this guy a chase that would make Gene Hackman proud. I always loved the
239 sound of 302 inches of hi-pro ported, pollished, balanced, and blueprinted
240 power come to life! The needle on the speedometer rose faster and faster.
241 70...80...90..100! But the guy in the mazda somehow seemed to be keeping up.
242 It was getting difficult to dodge the other cars that seemed to crawl along
243 at 60mph. Faster still...110...120...and still this mysterious mazda seemed
244 to keep up. Past Big Reds we flew...Past the interchange...Murry...Cornell...
245 Ocean Beaches sign...on and on, yet I couldn't shake him. 130 was the speed
246 now...how much longer could he stay at this speed?!? Suddenly, he tore past
247 me as if I was standing still. Visions of Knight Rider danced in my head,
248 but that's a TV show. I saw the face of the other driver...what a strange
249 look...almost a smile, but those eyes......
250 Those eyes...
251 I am not quite sure what happened next. It might have been a pothole, or maybe
252 a piece of tire from one of the big semi's..but whatever...I seemed to have
253 lost control of my car, but the car wasn't out of control. It was almost as
254 if the car were being influenced by some forces Detroit never dreamed of...
255 The next thing that made any sense was finding myself driving again, but
256 now totally alone, over a strange landscape. The speed was much less, but my
257 speedometer was not registering at all. In fact, the only way I could tell
258 my speed was less was due to the sound of the engine. Even the tach was out.
259 I was moving, no doubt about that, but where was I going. I had a feeling
260 my handy city of portland road map wouldn't get me out of this. I better
261 stop and get some sense of what is going on. And where is that driver in
262 the Mazda???
263 $*)$#*@)$#@*$@#) L'homme sans parity - Cette fois...je ne sais pas - $#@()$#@(
264 PS I realize this isn't the usual way to get into a story, but voyeur, Milchar,
265 traveller, et all's knowledge of the fantasy story line is far above mine.
266 But I know a good chance to get in on the fun when I see one, so give me a
267 chance. I will try to take part and be a good contributing member to this
268 next story which looks like a good one. I appreciate your patience.
269 $%#*)%$*#%)#*@^)#*^)*#)^*)*^)#*^)!*#)^*)%#@*^)%* Merci! %*$#)%*)#$*%)#$*%)#$%*
270 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
271 WELL MILCHHAR(?) WHY CAN'T I HAVE SOME ENCAHNTED ARROWS? YOUR LITTLE TID BITS AR
272 E GETTING BETTER BUT KEEP WORKING ON IT.YOU WILL SOME DAY BEAT OUT PAM IN CREATI
273 RESTORE
274 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
275 DEAR CISTOP PLEASE ERASE PAST MESSAGE ONE ABOVE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT 
276 WORKS YOUR HELP SECTION IS HARD FOR A NEW PERSON USING THE MODEM FOR ONLY A FEW
277 WEEKS. I AM SORRY FOR MY STUPIDITY.  
278 
279                          THANK YOU 
280                          ARCHER
281 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
282 Quizmaster:He is a truuthteller, as no matter wfrom where the other native
283 came from, he would say, "west".  So if the messenger also says "west", then
284 he is telling the truth.
285 +Next:That particular cryptogram is my own.  I think I have already solved i
286 that one.
287 +++++++++
288 Traveller:The Ruby Valley is NOT referred to at all in the Amber books,
289 I just decided to use Amber as a means to get there.
290 +++++++++
291 Voyeur:DonPlease don't tire out my gre!at-grandfather out with talk before I
292 arrive.
293 ++++++++
294 As Milchar and Traveller were crusing along the skyways toward Amber, a 
295 bright flash of blue light below attracted Milchar's attention.  "Look! A car!
296 What is that doing here?  Pretty soon it won't be able to move, as gasoline
297 doesn't burn in Amber!  Traveller, before using the Pattern I must go see my
298 Great-Grandfather, Corwin, and my Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Dworkin.
299  must know if Amberite powers decline with the passing of generations.  I 
300 must also get a set of Trumps, even though none of my relatives like my 
301 using the Magical Arts.  They don't trust it, somehow..."
302 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++++++
303 *************************************************************************
304 TOMMY LOY, THE CABIN BOY 
305 THE DIRTY LITTLE NIPPER
306 HE STUFFED HIS ??? WITH BROKEN GLASS
307 AND CIRCUMSIZED THE SKIPPER
308 *********************************************************WHISPER**********
309 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
310  MIG: ok, ok....
311  PHOENIX: Well, maybe I went just a little (tiny tiny) bit overboard. 
312  HAWTHORNE: **PLEASE** set the system margin at 76 with the "MA 76" command,
313 and procede to type until eithier (if you have a bell) the margin beeper
314 beeps, or (if you don't) the system stops echoing your characters. Edit
315 your messages to remove typos. Find some way to make you machine comm in
316 LOWER CASE. 
317  ALL: Yes, I know. MiG chides me with a long-forgotten document (my "come
318 on people now, smile on your brother....everybody get together learn to 
319 love one another right now" text of a few years back, from one of BW's less
320 savory disks... and times.. I was playing Jesse Jackson) and I can 
321 remember (long pause....well, just ONCE......or twice..) when I left mess-
322 ages containing somewhat less than topical or relevant material. (with 
323 attendant gramatical and spelling "liberties".....ONCE) 
324       I want BW to be a "nice" place to visit.  These periods of upheavel
325 always pass, but in their passing take something with them...perhaps
326 someone decides that BW is no longer a worth their time; true, we lose
327 some users and in the same breath another "BOO! I'M NEW" (how PAM intro-
328 duced herself) appears on our disks. This does not change; users come and
329 go; but, like flowers, no two are alike, we are poorer when we lose a rose,
330 even if that day we find a lily. Has anyone seen the Dragon Lady recently?
331 Colonel Batgauno? Mike Bigham? They all still have computers, modems, live
332 in Portland, (well, I havn't talked with Mike for a while) and no longer
333 frequent the BW. We lose every time a potential user decides that "BW
334 is just a bunch of kids playing with modems" upon spying "MOB RULES"
335 splayed across their screen, or when a "premium no-lead" simply can't
336 access the system because the line is tied up by undesireables entering
337 100 lines of "WRITTING", or a Mike or a Denise or a Pamela finds their
338 messages adultrated one too many times...and doesn't call back. We lose.
339        BW has had golden times; everyone can remember when the magic "works"
340 and a disk is a mystical tapestry woven of loveingly spun fibers.. of a
341 different world than p-n junctions and magnetic domains. A world of beauty,
342 of mystery....of magic!    Then, of course, are BW's tin times..the system
343 is little more than random bubbles of ego, floating in a sea of self, bursting
344 as if never having been. Our world is reduced to phase hits, 103A, and 
345 weather or not someone is using MA 76.
346        I believe we have a choice. I beleive we can prolong our "golden
347 times", and eliminate our tin ones. ("I have a dream....") Individually,
348 we are helpless. Collectivly, we are strong. No one would vandalize a system
349 if they knew it would put an end to their telecomputing days in Portland, 
350 that they would be caught, exposed.. Everyone would strive to do their best,
351 be the MOST creative, make the FEWEST spelling errors, if they were using
352 a system that was, unquestionably, THE BEST, MOST RESPECTED system in the
353 state. OUR SYSTEM.  
354        Well, I've had my say, vented my spleen at Phoenix (and subjected
355 all of you to my Negative Vibes in the process), and generally wasted a lot
356 of disk space. Comments?
357 
358 WHISPER: I am ashamed to admit that I found your "poem" most humorus. Gee, 
359         almost as good a the Bard, eh? Hmmmm....
360                                                     Aaron
361 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
362 )#@$(@)#($)#!($)!($)@#($)@#(%)#$(^)$#(^)@#$(^)!(^)@#(^)(%)@^(@)(^)%$(^)$#
363 Yes indeed Aaron...A diatrib that would make Chris Serling proud. Look...
364 a signpost up ahead...it's the zonette zone....
365 By the way, are you on the May 15th primary? Surely you are running for
366 some office??? BW comptroller? Secretary of Messages? BW Supreme Court?
367 **$#@)*$^#$^*#)^# L'homme sans parity *)%*#)*%)#*%)%*)@*%)#@$*%)#$*%)#$*%
368 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
369 Aaron--when you are not arguing religion, you can produce some rather
370 nice writing.  Why not try your hand at one of the adventures?
371 ????
372 Well, Milchar, since you are the only one responding to my quizes, I might
373 as well address it to you.  You got the last one correct, so here's 
374 another one, set on a neighboring island.
375 On this island, the whites get sunburned to the same shade as
376 the natives, so the only way to tell them apart is thus: Islanders
377 always lie (of course) and the 'whites' alway tell the truth.
378 A visitor paddles up to the island, and sees three people on the beach,
379 all the same color.  He asks "are you white people burned brown, or are
380 you islanders?"  The first oe calls out something that is lost in the sound
381 of the surf, so the man shouts out his question again.  This time the 
382 second man on the beach calls back, saying "The first person who answered
383 said he is a white man, and he IS a white man, and so am I."  The third
384 person on the beach calls out "The first two people here on the beach 
385 are islanders and I am a white man burned brown."
386 What is each man really?
387 ??????????????????????????? QUIZMASTER ????????????????????????????????
388 && && &&
389 Grand D.:  There is no conspiracy, no group of cronies & insiders plotting to exclude others from the tales. I
390 was making a slightly facetious commenton how the last adventure started. What I was trying to say was "somebody
391 get the ball rolling". I'll agree, the last one was lacking in pace, but taken as segments there were some good
392 things written. Now we need to practice our pacing. Care to show us how?
393                  && The Mad Actor &&
394 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
395 (I'd still like some info on the Ruby Valley so there can be some coherence, or is it strictly a figment {haven't seen
396 Fig lately, come to think of it})
397 Voyeur found himself in what appeared to be a library.  Books covered the walls, and there was a glass cabinet off 
398 to one side containing several decks of cards similar to the one which had brought him here.  He was interrupted in his
399 review by the man in silver and black.  "I am Corwin, Lord of Amber.  Who are you, and where are you from?"  Voyeur
400 stammered "I am Voyeur, that is, I am Called Voyeur, because of, well, uh," he felt his face grow hot, which increased
401 his embarrassment.  He hurried on "I am from Innisfall, the Backwater Inn, and..." he went on to tell how he arrived
402 in Amber.  As he spoke, Corwin grew thoughtful.  "Innisfall, eh?  From your description, this CISTOP MIKEY sounds like
403 a shadow of a shadow of one of my brothers.  Possibly Gerard, probably Random.  His powers indicate that he must have
404 a fair amount of the blood of the House of Amber.  As must you, Voyeur, to be able to manipulate the Trumps.  Your name
405 puts me in mind of Random also. Tell me of your ancestry."  As Voyeur began relating his family tree, Corwin suddenly
406 held up his hand, and got a faraway look in his eyes.  Then he turned his attention to Voyeur and said "your coming
407 seems to have opened gates which have been closed for some time.  Do you know this newcomer?"  A picture began forming
408 in Voyeurs mind.  He saw a car, a Mustang, floating through the air over a forest, and as the image grew sharper and
409 focused in on the errant vehicle, he recognized a familiar face behind the wheel.  "L'homme!  L'homme sans parity!
410 What is He doing here?"  "That's what I'd like to know" responded Lord Corwin, darkly.
411 ::::::::
412 Actually, L'homme, if we were to get in a race, if I Did get in front of you, you Would be lost.  Lost in great clouds
413 of blue smoke from the quart of oil I burn every 120 miles.  And Hey!  This is Backwater!  There is no Right way to 
414 get involved.  Your method was as good as any and better than most.  I certainly enjoyed it.  (inside jokes help a bit,
415 of course)
416 :::::::
417 All: how's my 120 character lines look? I like them, since my 64 character screen makes two proper lines out of it
418 (as opposed to the line + 8 characters I get at 70-80). Consider this-the 26 lines I just entered would 've used 41 @75.
419 ::::::::::::::::::::::O O:::::::::voyeur:::::::::O O:::::::::::::::::
420 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
421    Far from the inn, in a lonely glade by a swiftly running stream, the piper 
422 sat upon a large rock.  His pipes were dissasembled and laying in the grass
423 before him, his head bent over, and his face wore an intent expression.  He held
424 a yellow tube about three inches in diameter and about 4 inches long in one 
425 hand and an exceedingly sharp knife in the other.  Never faltering in his
426 concentration, he pared a tiny sliver off the tounge of still another bass
427 drone reed.  Placing the tube in his mouth, he blew a raucous cawwww, then 
428 smiled faintly.  Perhaps now he could escape this self-imposed prison and
429 rejoin his old companions at the inn.  He straightened and a circle of gold
430 shaped as a serpent biting its own tail swung from his neck.  He pressed the
431 newly trimmed reed into the bottom of the drone, assembled the stand of pipes
432 and swung them to his shoulder.  With the first few notes, he knew he was in 
433 deep trouble.  The golden torc pulsed alarm as some force took hold of him and
434 left only a fading impression of a greyish stain laced with scarlet and gold in
435 the air of the deserted glade.
436 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
437 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
438 Quizmaster:The man who wasn't heard was a white burned brown, as the second
439 man (who truthfully said that the first had said "I am a white") did tell the
440 truth.  Therefore he is also white.  The Third man is an Islander, as he lied
441 about both of the other answers.
442 +++++++++
443 Wind rushed by the two adventurers as the "Flying Mat" took them to Amber.
444 The great expanse of the city was before them, as they were quite close now.
445 The sparkling city below made Milchar very glad he decided to come, but he
446 also was grieved by events that were soon to come.
447 Milchar steered the mat to hover above the Glen of the Unicorn, as he summoned
448 all of his will to pass to the real one.  The pain increased as he fought,
449 and just before Milchar couldn't stand it any olonger, they were through.
450 The area that they were now in seemed almost identical to where they were...
451 but seemed DIFFERENT somehow.  Everything was sharper, more real. "If I 
452 hadn't have had mental training, I would have never been able to manipulate
453 Shadow so close to Amber.  Now to find Dworkin."
454 The mat lazily flew about a quarter of a mile to the seashore, where an
455 enourmous expanse of rock was etched with a strange spiral-like design, which
456 glowed with silverly light as they landed.  The mat, in a guesture of exhaustion
457 , promptly disintergrated when they landed. "Poor spell.  I hardly ever work
458 wthem that hard." Milchar finds a tunnel dug into solid rock, and gestures 
459 Traveller inside.
460 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++++++++
461 ***************************************************************
462 Mad Actor: Good God...I hope I didn't sound that paranoid. I 
463 never said I thought there was a conspiracy to exclude anyone.
464 If anything I was expressing my frustration. Mostly it comes 
465 down to missing the work of Mike Bigham.
466 
467 I've found that certain contributions to the Inn are easier to 
468 relate to than others. The great discs are the ones where
469 members really clicked with one anothers styles and 
470 contributions. I've found that my style clicks more often with 
471 Mikes' than with anyone elses. I really miss Mohammed and 
472 Serena. I haven't found any adventure that inspires me like 
473 theirs.
474 
475 But who knows? Maybe someday someone will hit on something that
476 I can really get my teeth into. It's that hope that causes me 
477 to at least remain a lurker when nothing good is going on.
478 
479 I'm taking my computer in to get a disc drive installed which 
480 means I won't be around for awhile. Don't do anything 
481 interesting while I'm gone. Grand D. 
482 ***************************************************************
483 Aaron: Greatly enjoyed your BWM editorial. Good work. - GDM
484 ***************************************************************
485 
486 *******************************************************
487 PIPER: CAN YOU WATCH YOUR ENTRY A BIT BETTER? MY TERMINAL
488 DETESTS ESCAPE CHARACTERS, THEY DRIVE IT BATTY. IT DOESN'T
489 CARE FOR CONTROL N EITHER, BUT AT LEAST YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY
490 IN YOUR ENTRY (MILCAHR ON THE OTHER HAND.........)
491 ************************: CISTOP MIKEY *********************
492 Aaron: I am not Whisper, but I am aquainted with her....
493 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
494 Before the figure could reply to the apprentice's query, reality {BLINK}ed once
495 more. When the bard glanced around, he discovered that the apprentice & the
496 prairie cat were no longer with him. He decided to worry about that later as
497 he suddenly realized that he KNEW where he was...
498 There ought to be a hidden supply cache in that ruined department store....
499 ....Later after repairing/replacing much of his equipment, he was ready to 
500 start back to the inn. But first, a test of the new scanner. What's this -
501 traces converging on Amber? This bears checking out! 
502 He replaced the scanner & took out another device. Any observer must 
503 have been very bewildered. This new device did not bear close scrutiny. Imagine,
504 if you will, a cross between a 3-D analogue of a blivit, a Klien flask & a
505 tesseract. This will give you some idea of the kind of mayhem the opener wreaked
506 on normal eyes! 
507 He triggered the opener. A hatch opened in mid-air, beyond was visible
508 a service tunnel of some sort, running at right angles to the hatch. Strange 
509 boxes, conduits & the like covered the walls and floor. The bard stepped through
510 the hatch. As it closed he muttered, "Shouldn't be more than a million miles or
511 so... God I *HATE* walking!"
512 The hatch vanished.
513 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
514 I'll answer a couple of questions in advance. No, I haven't gotten into a ship. 
515 Yes, I am going to WALK a million or so miles. You rembember the "holes" in 
516 "Time Bandits"? This is sort of a hi-tech analogue. Inter-universal service 
517 passages. Alteco uses 'em, but I never got an answer when I asked who BUILT 
518 them.....
519 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
520 The apprentice found himself and Green Eyes standing behind a VERY familar
521 figure.
522 "Art thou Whisper?"
523 .............................the apprentice.....................................
524 ps. Whisper, I believe that Green Eyes has a liking for thee. Mayhap we should 
525 all join in this journey to Amber? What sayest thou?
526 ................................................................................
527 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
528 MOTHER'S DON'T PREFER AQUAFRESH.                                        --MOTHER
529 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
530 Here we are, all converging on Amber.  Most of the Innhabitants are as
531 starved for a good m.a. story as I am.  It reminds me of the beginning
532 of the Kolumbia Disaster.  I hope we have better luck on this one.  Does
533 anyone have any real idea what is going on? We need a real live honest
534 to goodness GOAL, else we'll just mill around in Amber for a while until
535 Corwin gets tired of us and invites us to explore Chaos.  (I just wish
536 the books were fresher in my mind, but there's no way I'm going to get
537 the 900 or so pages reread in time to be useful.  Doesn't really matter,
538 I guess. Not everyone seems to be as interested in following the setting
539 as closely as I tried to.  'Openers' indeed!)
540 ::::::::::::::::::::::::O O:::::::::voyeur:::::::::::O O::::::::::::::
541 Upon reflection, I realize that my greeting to L'homme is rather at
542 odds with that I tossed in the direction of Bard.  The males in my
543 family are notorious for their crabbiness when awakened prematurely.
544 A nuisance phone call did the honors for me a while ago.  Sorry.
545 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::O O:::::::::voyeur::::::::::O O:::::::::::
546 (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
547 Whisper was sitting by herself in the field writing in her book of 
548 of curiosities when there was a sudden rush of displaced air and  a
549 mild BAMPH. Looking up she spied the apprentice and a large green eyed
550 cat. Is that the kind of cat I think it is. I've only come across them 
551 mentioned once and that was in my copy of the BOOK OF SAGES, she said to
552 the apprentice. I do wish that book hadn't had the index torn out of it
553 before I found it. I can never find anything twice in the thing! I'm 
554 sure I saw some mention of the Ruby valley in it but i don't remember 
555 the page number or what was said. Let me get my armor on and lets go.
556 You do have a spell to get us there don't you? 
557 (((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))****************))))))))))((((((((((((
558 P.S Aaron i'm fond of puns and limericks. the one about Tommy Loy is 
559 an old one. The original is much dirtier. I originally came across it
560 in a collection of short science fiction stories called, I think,
561 "FIRST CONTACT", I don't remember the editors name.
562 *****************************************************WHISPER************
563 PPS: REMEMBER WHEN IT HITS THE FAN IT IS NOT DISTRIBUTED EVENLY!
564 ********** WHISPER*******************************************************
565 ----------------------------------------(<>)------------------------------------
566 
567 Milchar: Thankyou for keeping the adventure going in my absence. (I have not
568     missed anything, but have been unable to enter any messages. I will be
569     absent for the weekend but should be back in force MONDAY, armed with
570     a goal (I hope), somthing related with the instabiltiy of Innisfall.
571 
572 Grand D: I do often take into account the older magics. My specialty is in
573     being competant at both magic and tecnology, often where magic is being
574     used technology is overlooked. (Though more often the reverse is true.)
575     Have you ever been in the vicinity of dragonfat, it will drive off anything!
576     
577 --------(<>)--------------
578 
579     Following rapidly after Milchar was a bit tiring, but we were getting
580 somewhere. The reality transphaser indicated that there was significant
581 activity converging on Amber, things were going to get interesting.
582 I had my doubts about patterns too, I hope Milchar has the prerequisits
583 for walking it or this expedition would end fast. He has hinted...
584       
585 -------------------------(<>)The Traveller(<>)----------------------------------
586 && && &&
587 "Who are you?" The woman had been the Poet's constant companion for several days, and had yet to reveal her name.
588 "I'm your ideal lover."  "I know that; lord knows I should by now. But WHO are you? What's your name? Where are you
589 from?" "I'm from the best of all possible worlds, and I've dedicated my life to keeping you happy."
590 The poet could see that getting a straight answer was going to take a long time. Maybe months, constantly in her 
591 company. *Sigh* It was a dirty job, but...
592                 && The Mad Actor &&
593 $('#")'($)"#!*'?$!)"*#+'?$)"#'$!)$<'")#!*<$?")#!*'$"!)#+$'")'%)"$!*'?%=")%='
594 The mazda was certainly no where in sight, but I had bigger problems to worry
595 about at the moment. My normally fine tuned high output engine was making
596 sounds that would make Carol Shelby turn in his grave! "But I just tuned this
597 beast!" I said to myself. "What could be wrong now???" I was still moving
598 at a relatively high rate of speed, although no where near the speed I had
599 achieved back on the Sunset. Ah yes...the Sunset...was has happned to
600 Portland? What has happened to Tektronix, my original destination? And why the
601 heck am I here???
602 At first I wasn't sure if it was some distortion due to the heat, or if
603 it was real, but as I drew closer...yes...some kind of city...Well at least
604 there is some kind of civilizaion here. The engine was starting to miss
605 now...I cringed when I thought of the damage all of this might do to those
606 beautiful 13:1 molly pistons I just had put in. Stuck out here with no idea
607 of where I am is not my idea of fun at a Saturday Concourse. If I can just
608 nurse my car into that city...what ever it is, maybe I can get some help
609 with my car. I was getting closer now, but finally the engine just gave up.
610 No amount of manual choke adjustment would help. It was as dead as a flat-6
611 air cooled corvair on a hot summer day. "Well it looks as if I'll have quite
612 a long walk into town". But for some strange reason, beyond my 15 hours of
613 General Physics I had taken my Sophomore year at PSU, my 2600lbs car kept
614 on rolling, as if defying friction, and taking Newton totally to heart! I 
615 couldn't explain it, but if it was going to spare me a long walk, I am not
616 going to complain. As I rolled into the outskirts of town, I thought to myself,
617 "I better find a Union 76 station...They're the only ones who sell leaded
618 premium..."
619 $')#$'#")$#"$'#" L'homme sans parity avec problems de voiture ())(%)"#(!#)$()$
620 
621 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
622 
623      Having finished the last of my cleaning (not finding too many stray,
624 strange characters), I take my cloak and cape and head towards the door.
625 It is warm outside, but the sky is grey and the air is damp and chilling, so
626 I wrap my cloak tightly.  Suddenly, a deeper chill runs across the surface
627 of my mind, and I begin to run; someone is in my home!
628 
629 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM.[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

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