Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: andsol@elf.owlnet.rice.edu (Andrew J. Solberg) Subject: Sgt. Kron [Broadmarch]: Siege XIII Message-ID: <1992May29.022115.10537@rice.edu> Keywords: Kron, Dougl, William, slavers, extremely long threads Date: Fri, 29 May 1992 02:21:15 GMT Characters: EVERYBODY!!! Kron runs along the deck toward the aft side of the ship, where he is certain he saw Karl land. He pauses at the middeck to boggle at the unfurling scene. Toward the fore, Rhoan Pathkeeper and Silken are fighting off a horde of slavers in the familiar grey cloaks. At the wheel, Tvarne has gained control of the wheelhouse. Near the mainmast, a sorceress is foiled by a banana peel thrown by...... thrown by a person Kron is at a loss to classify. On the far side of the deck, a youthful guardsman fights valiantly against a Rameshander who, inexplicably, refuses to die. ...sage has scuttled the approaching Wasters who, now discouraged, are paddling slowly back to shore. Meshtak is nowhere to be seen, but Kron is sure he is somewhere, shredding something. Kron snaps out of his amazement and is about to continue his search for Karl when he hears motion inside some coils of rope. Investigating, Kron finds two young boys. The sergeant adds two and two, gets four: "You boys! GET OUT OF THERE!" Dougl and William (for it is they) emerge sheepishly from their hiding place. "What are you doing in there?" "Uncle Cedric jumped to the other boat, but the leap looked too tricky." Kron is annoyed at the boys, but relieved that they are safe. He quickly takes them in tow and half-drags them to the side facing the *Morning Breeze*. With no ceremony and little warning, Kron scoops them up and tosses them across the gap to the waiting arms of Uncle Cedric. The boys are shook up, but the slavers will not menace them again. Kron continues his search for Karl: now is the time to leave and let the harbor patrol make the arrests! Kron passes again through the middeck toward the aftcastle. There, through a doorway, he sees a spectacular sight: Karl, swinging on a rope like a monkey through a porthole! Kron enters the room. On the floor is Karl and a grey-robed woman. The woman is securely tied and gagged, but Karl is also lying down; his head seems to have taken a nasty knock. A scroll lies next to the captive; Kron reflects that perhaps Karl's atypical heroism may just have saved some lives, including his own. Kron shakes Karl: "Karl! The boys are safe! Time to go, old friend! We did it!" "Huh? Wuh? Wuzzat..... Urp...." says Karl. The watchman decides that maybe HE had better supervise his old friend's disembarking....... he is about to begin assisting him to his feet when Karl grasps his wrist firmly. "The amulet!" he says. "Amulet.....button.....home......" Karl collapses, but not before an amulet falls from his hand. Kron ponders this mystery, but takes the amulet. Kron hefts Karl heavily by slinging him over his shoulders. He evacuates him combat-style in this manner, sending him over to the *Morning Breeze* with a few sailors. Kron is pleased -- this operation is wrapping itself up neatly. Suddenly, Kron smells smoke -- something one never wants to smell on a ship. Looking to the doors leading down to the hold of the _Broadmarch_, Kron sees flames licking up from below. The smoke smells oily; Kron knows that the fire must be near some oil or parafin supplies. If those combustibles truly light........ Kron runs for middeck. "EVACUATE THE BOAT!!" he shouts. "THOSE WHO CAN, BOARD THE OTHER SHIPS! THOSE WHO CAN'T, DIVE FOR IT!! THIS SHIP IS GOING TO BLOW!!!!" He stride purpose- fully into the fray, looking for wounded or stray slaves...... -- Andrew Solberg |"Moving faster than a speeding bullet isn't andsol@owlnet.rice.edu | much use if you and it are headed straight Phone:713-529-8627 | for each other." John Brunner bridge-sleep-eat-sex-bridge-sleep-eat-sex-bridge-sleep-I'M STUCK!!!!