From: djb6@ellis.uchicago.edu (Dennis Brennan) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [R] Karl: R 'n R on the _Arcas_ Message-ID: <1992Nov24.004533.20666@midway.uchicago.edu> Date: 24 Nov 92 00:45:33 GMT "Bloody hell," thought Karl as he rubbed his woozy head. He continued to grip the wheel of the _Arcas_, mistakenly believing that his diligence at his selected post was critical in order to stay the course of the boat. Actually, the hitherto swinging boom had finally been secured by a member of the crew. Nevertheless, despite his exhaustion, Karl maintained his position until the pilot finally showed up to relieve him. Supporting his weary self by gripping the deck-rail with both raw, sore hands, Karl staggered back toward the stern of the ship where he had previously been relaxing. Karl was rather stunned at the extent of the damage done to the _Arcas_. The quivering forms of sailors, pirates and passengers lay sprawled about the deck in varying states of agony. Much of the woodwork on the side of the ship which the _Cote_D'Azur_ had attempted to broadside was splintered and ruined. One of the _Arcas's_ sails lay in tatters across the port side of the bow, and healers attempted to administer to the wounds of the injured. In short, it was a scene to which Karl had grown accustomed over the last thirty years. Had Karl been a diligent emissary, he would have immediately proceeded to Amaan's cabin to make sure of the welfare of the man whom he had been ordered to escort. But at this time Karl was more aware of his fatigue than his duty, and proceeded immediately to a chair in the sun, where he immediately fell asleep. * * * * * * * * As it happened, another was evaluating the status of Amaan at that moment. Artifice continued to inspect the Klein (sp?) bottle with the kind of frustration which only an endless iteration loop can give an artificial intelligence. Amaan was inside, and outside, and inside... Finally, it stopped. Something blew, or perhaps it was an automated safety trip.... STANDBY...PROCESSING VISUAL INPUT... STANDBY...PROCESSING VISUAL INPUT... STA^C C: restart GOODBYE> Artifice's visual organs registered that white line on a background reducing to a point that you see on old black & white TV sets turning off. His head drooped to his chest. A man who, strangely, exactly resembled Karl of Generica slumped to the floor in a state equivalent to a coma. This man had no name. -- Dennis Brennan djb6@midway.uchicago.edu