Date: Thursday, 22 Apr 1993 12:53:47 EDT From: Michael Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Message-ID: <93112.125347344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU> Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [BBD] A Rat at the Door [ADMIN: Or at least part 1 thereof. Thanks to Stephen, Joe, and The Dreamer for their input into this post, in ways I can't accurately express here!] The storm finally subsided during the night, its damage potential held back through both magical and natural means, thus allowing Generica to overall still stand. The sun appeared on schedule, and began to try to dry up all the rain from the land. The morning sun seemed to symbolize the end of another Generican disaster. Once again, people began migrating to their houses and places of business, and inspecting them for water damage. And so it was that the foursome of Darvos, Lancos, Little Rat, and Lissa aroused themselves, and dressed. Lancos was first to go to the main room of the business, and placed some gold coins and a note on the counter. The Little Rat saw this, and asked, "Whatz dat for?". She was impressed by the show of wealth -- she was convinced she had encountered another prince or the like --, especially if he could afford to seemingly give it away. Lancos noted the look, and responded accordingly. "Oh, I'm leaving a note about what we used, and paying for it. It's the right thing to do, Little Rat; we shouldn't deprive the merchant of his rightful earnings." Little Rat still looked at him somewhat questioningly, obviously mulling over the statement. Lancos sighed, his mind calling back to when he started trying to teach Brent about morals, or at least his interpretation of them in society. But Brent had been about twice Little Rat's age, had been used to someone "teaching" him, and that had been after a war, not at the seeming beginning of something. No, Lancos knew what he had planned was for the best. Just then Darvos came out, providing a distraction Lancos was greatful for. "So, how is Lissa?" the ranger asked. Before the wizard could muster a reply, Lissa herself came out, and blushed at the attention. "I'm fine. And I understand I have you to thank for that, for saving me." "No thanks necessary, as far as I'm concerned." Lancos countered. "I'm still angry with myself for even allowing the opportunity. But enough of that; we've things I want us to do today." With that, they headed out of the store, reseting the lock as they did. When Borret Skimer returned to his store, he would find _quite_ surprise, although his involvement ends there. Out on the street, they paused for a general gasp at what had occurred. The streets were water-logged; houses were partially flooded or outright destroyed; people were grevious, cold or sick, but nevertheless rebuilding. All realized that a disaster had passed through the town. Lancos realized that again he had missed the mainstream of defense, albeit again on a mission of saving at least one life. Darvos couldn't help but feel pity and a wanting to help. Lissa and Little Rat were more conditioned to the desolation, but no less sympathetic. Still, the world moved on, and so did they. Lancos led them to near the shore of the Great Blue, and then north. After a while, Darvos grew tired of his lack of information, and walked up to the ranger. "I can tell you have a destination in mind, friend." he said with the accent that was beginning to become familiar to Lancos. "Would you mind telling me where it is?" Lancos looked back, at the girls. When he was satisfied that they were too busy talking to each other to listen to what he said, he nodded slightly. "All right, but just between you and me, ok? I think both you and I want to find the Gutt Man and whoever he's with, and deal with them. And I personally don't want Little Rat exposed to any danger. But the way I see it, she won't leave unless she knows Lissa's safe, or feels she's doing something more important. So what we need is someone who will protect her, while making her feel useful. And I happen to know someone that will do so perfectly well." Little Rat paused in her near-continual bantering with Lissa and looked around at the buildings. She did not recognise the area. The houses were larger than the shanties that she was used to, so she thought to ask. "Hey Mr. Lancos, where is we goin'?" "We're going to the house of a friend of mine, Little Rat." "Do he live in da rich people's part a Generica?" "No, he lives up on the cliff there, just outside the city." He pointed to a ridge ahead of them, and the lighthouse on top. Little Rat stopped dead in her tracks. She paled. The expression on her face was a mix of fear, worry, and confusion. "What do ya mean 'outside'? Dere ain't no outside Mr. Lancos. Dere is just Generica and nuttin' else." "Oh, there's lots of things outside Generica, Little Rat. There's farms and forests and oceans and ..." he stopped, seeing the open disbelief on her face. "You is tellin' me stories... aint' ya?" "No, it's true." "Well, I heared dis story once of a guy who tried to leave Generica an' he tried to go to da 'outside' an' dis big ole lizard, dat were even bigger than a T-croc landed on him and put fire all over him until he died. I don't like dem T-croc's, 'specially if dey is gonna put fire all over me and burn me up. Maybe I'll be goin' back to da Low City where it's safe." She was looking down at the ground with a small frown on her face. As she spoke, she stared intently at the pattern she made there with her left foot in the road's dust. "Hey, we wouldn't take you places that aren't safe, Little Rat. Besides, my friend wouldn't let big lizards hang around." Lancos squateed down level with the girl and looked at her eye-to-eye. "If you really want to help us, you need to see my friend and tell him about the Gutt Man - he's a really good fighter and he can help us find where the Gutt Man is hiding, but you have to tell him all you know so he can tell what to look for." "You is sure?" "Yes. I could tell him, but I don't know enough about the Gutt Man to tell him what to look for." Little Rat pondered for a moment. "Then I 'spose I hasta go wit you." Along the beachside, they saw houses in various stages of disarray. This was where a lot of the destruction came about at; where the sea could wave its angry paw into the faces of the citizens. But then, after a climb, Darvos saw a house -- a lighthouse, by the initial looks of it -- that had nary a scratch on it. Darvos inwardly knew this was no accident, and that this must be their destination. * * * * A gentle chiming sounded in the lighthouse garden. "Visitors?" ar'Elya asked wearily, still somewhat drained from the storm, and still not all in one piece after all the Catamount Porter she'd had to drink. She swung languidly on a padded rope swing on the tree in the garden. "Looks like." 'Raelf answered. "One of them is Lancos -- I'd recognise that template anywhere." He chinned up over the edge of the wall to get a closer look. "Hey, he's not alone. Got a couple kids and a magician with him. So I doubt this is just a social call." "Kids? Hmm. I better get all housewifey then," ar'Elya said with a grin, and flickered into a shapely black-haired woman wearing a stylish toreador pants combo, her hair sharply styled in an early '60s roll-up. Also she was in black-and-white, a jarring constract with the colorful garden. "Cut that out. I'm not Dick Van Dyke and you're not Mary Tyler Moore." "Ooooh Ralfie" she sighed, with a tremolo sob. "Quit it! And no Marge Simpson either." He scowled as her hair went all tall and puffy for a moment. ar'Elya grinned and shifted back to herself. "Dooohhh! You're no fun." "This is no time for you to have a bad hair day." The bell rang - Lancos was a bit surprised, since he'd knocked on the door, and the sound was not expected. A shutter in the door opened and 'Raelf looked out, more for form than anything else. "Hey Lancos, welcome dude, didn't expect to see you up here so soon!" He opened the door and waved them all inside, to the garden where ar'Elya waited in her neutral form. "Greetings, 'Raelf." He started to say something else and stared instead into the garden where ar'Elya was talking to a boy who looked to be within a few months either way of Little Rat. 'Raelf looked, and shrugged. "Kev's a kid I met near Low Town, his folks are dead." Little Rat looked around at the garden, and 'Raelf looked questioningly at Lancos. "Oh, sorry, please, let me do some introductions. This taller, skinnier fellow is Darvos, a mage like yourself, although of course with a different focus.". "Pleased to meet you." Darvos said with a thick, Translyvania-like accent. Lancos continued. "The older girl is Lissa, a former resident of Low City, but now under Darvos' care. And last but far from least, the Little Rat, who you might have seen when we met William, or hanging around with Alfvaen." A cat came out from behind them, and stepped on Lancos' boots with claws extended, painfully refreshing his memory. "Oh, yes, and this is Bast; how improper of me to forget." Bast looked up at Lancos and rubbed his leg softly, possibly the closest thing to a forgival he'd receive from her. "And this, my friends, is 'Raelf and his lifemate, ar'Elya." "Nice to meet you." 'Raelf nodded. "Come in; sit down; allow us to make you comfortable. Can we get you something to eat or drink?" "Not pizza I hope." Lancos laughed. ar'Elya joined them, carrying a tray. She smiled at Lancos' joke and gestured. "No, it's tea time." She gestured to the sunlit entry of the beehive-shaped lighthouse, where a table was laid, surrounded by exactly seven chairs and a highchair, with a smaller serving table nearby. "Tea time?" Lancos asked 'Raelf as they were led to the table. "Veddy Civilised. C'mon, it's a hoot." They sat down, Bast getting the highchair, and found, respectively, large china teacups for the adults, smaller cups for the girls and Kev, and a bowl of cream for the cat. There was a pile of sandwiches cut in quarters, and ar'Elya was very patient as she showed Little Rat how to make the tea just sweet enough, and just hot enough. Kev made faces at the amount of milk and sugar that went into the girls' tea, but stopped at a gesture from 'Raelf. The Little Rat helped in her own way by telling the group to check the food for maggots before eating it. The adults did a good job of pretending to search their food, while the children did it with more conviction, being used to having to do it to food found in Low City. After a few minutes casual conversation, admirations of the garden exchanged, discussions of the nice weather, quite a change, etc., 'Raelf put down his empty cup and leaned forward, both elbows on the table, ignoring ar'Elya's quirked eyebrow. "So Lancos, what have you been doing lately?" Lancos laughed a bit. "Oh, just rescuing damsels in distress, thwarting evil-doers, and trying to not get too drunk. You know, business as usual. How bout you?" "Business as usual. Doing some consulting for the Mages' Guild, went surfing with Ray during the heavy weather, playing lifeguard, that sort of stuff. So what brings you here, dude?" "Uh... that's what I need to talk to you about. Privately." "Ok. ar'Elya, please entertain these lovely folks for a few?" "Of course, Rob." 'Raelf shot her a look, but she was just her innocent and usual self. He rose and walked over to the garden with Lancos. "Darvos, now that teatime is finished, would you like to see our view?" ar'Elya asked, as she wiped a bit of stray jelly off Kev's chin. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu