Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: andsol@arcadien.owlnet.rice.edu (Andrew J. Solberg) Subject: Kron:[Broadmarch]: WRAP IT UP Message-ID: <1992May29.194525.8920@rice.edu> Keywords: Kron, Teondir, Dougl, slavers Date: Fri, 29 May 1992 19:45:25 GMT Kron runs out onto the deck of the _Broadmarch_. All around him, crewmen, heroes and ex-slaves alike have become aware of the impending danger, and are desperately seeking shelter. Rameshanders and Genericans alike swarm onto the two rescue ships, which are both preparing to cast off. Kron, however, is not convinced that all have made it to safety, and he prowls the burning vessel looking for wounded or those trapped by the fire. Kron kneels down beside the shuddering body of a youthful Rameshander seaman; his midsection has been neatly sliced open, but the boy still lives. His eyes plead to Kron to save him. Kron cannot, but he can give him peace and, with his regulation short sword, does so. Kron reminds himself that war is truly hell before getting up and leaving. Near the forecastle, a Deathstalker staggers past. It is completely immolated in licking flames, probably acquired from somewhere in the hold. Kron finds a stout pole and beats the undead creature to pieces. Two years earlier, a seaside graveyard collapsed into the water and produced an epidemic of water-going zombie threats; the sergeant wants no repeat performances of that disaster. Passing the middeck, Kron spots the body of a young man lying curled up, half under a sail. He goes to investigate. Suddenly, the ship is shook by a tremendous explosion! Above on the foredeck, Rhoan and a gnarled slave are thrown into the water by the blast. The forward half of the _Broadmarch_ is consumed in flames; the aft half is spotted here and there with burning timbers and gobbets of pitch. Kron is temporarily stunned by the explosion and is knocked off his feet. He regains them on the now-tilting deck and staggers through the least-infernal portion of the wreck to the body. Due to the roar of the blaze, Kron fails to hear the cries from the ships' captains, who are pulling away from the wreck to save their own ships. Kron moves to the body and rolls it over. It is Teondir, the youthful guardsman. He has a nasty head wound, but is still breathing. Bad concussion, thinks Kron, and wraps the bleeding cut on the boy's scalp. Kron jerks as he remembers where he is. Too late, he looks up and sees the two boats moving well away from the sinking ship, so as to avoid the inevitable cataclysmic detonation. The two guardmen are surrounded on three sides by flaming timbers; only the way to the aftcastle is clear. Kron picks up Teondir and carries him, gently as possible, up the stairs to the highest and driest portion of the _Broadmarch_ still remaining. Kron sets the ailing boy down. He stirs uneasily in his stupor. Kron does his best to make him comfortable. So this is how it all ends, thinks the watchman. Still, it could be worse. I have lived a very full life. I have fought, I have loved, I have won, lost, and come in at all positions in between. This kid, he has done nothing. He had his whole life before him and he threw it away on a chance at glory. Kron wipes away a tear, thinking: he should have stayed at home. Home? That word rings a bell. Didn't Karl natter about 'home' when Kron picked him up from his heroic thwarting of the Rameshander sorceress? And then he gave him an amulet....Kron rummages for the jewel. He finds it and stares at it, resting in the center of his palm. The stud in the center looks almost button-like. Kron thinks a second, then snorts. Ha-Ha. Ho-Ho. No Way. Aarggh. Oh, okay. "Well, kid," says Kron, "I have good news, and I have bad news. You want the good news first? Eh, what's that? Yes? Well, the good news is that I have this fantastic plan to get us out of here. Oh, yes indeed." Flames start to lick over the sides of the aftcastle. There is a dull thud from the underside of the boat, then a sharp cracking noise. "Now, the bad news," says Kron, and presses the button. "I am terribly doubtful that my plan will actually w...." The boat explodes, raining debris down on the rescuing ships. Kron and Teondir are nowhere to be found. -- 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!!!!