From alt.pub.dragons-inn Fri Dec 10 08:35:33 1993 Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!portal.austin.ibm.com!awdprime.austin.ibm.com!clayton From: clayton@austin.ibm.com (Clay Colwell) Subject: [Inn] Vondi Starts His Duties Originator: clayton@magus.austin.ibm.com Message-ID: Sender: clayton@austin.ibm.com (Clayton Colwell) Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 23:09:41 GMT Reply-To: archmage@vnet.ibm.com Organization: IBM RISC System/6000 Division Lines: 43 A gentle shake on Vondi's shoulder dispelled the curtain of inky darkness he was floating in. "Vondi, Vondi, wake up," whispered a woman's voice softly. He opened his eyes groggily to see Mary Little- fair kneeling next to him. As he sat up and stretched, he found himself in a small dark room, dimly lit by a small candle on a table. The glass tube protecting the flame gleamed in its light, shining on the straw-stuffed mattress Vondi was lying on. He sat up, still a little sleepy, but curiously refreshed. He ran his hands up and down his arms briskly to stir up his blood a bit. He winced reflexively as his hand hit the area where the knife had slashed his right arm, then blinked in surprise as the expected pain never showed. He pulled up his sleeve and stared at the fresh white skin where the wound used to be. "The healing salve I used on your cuts has a side effect of drowsi- ness. Still, it looked like you needed the rest," Mary said. She smiled tenderly. "You're going to need a lot of rest and good food to put you back to rights. But now, the important question: do you feel strong enough to start some duties?" Vondi could do nothing but nod, numb with shock: never in his life had anyone *asked* him what *he'd* wanted. No, it'd always been "Go do that!" or "*Give* me that!" or, worse, "You ain't goin' *nowhere*." Once Vondi understood what Mary was asking, he fairly jumped off of the mattress, eager to begin. Mary laughed, saying, "It's early yet, which is why I wanted to awaken you and get you started while the Inn isn't so crowded. Now, are you *sure* you're up for this?" Vondi felt a flash of anger, but, quickly, almost sheepishly, realized that Mary wasn't *chal- lenging* him, but was in fact truly concerned for his welfare. "Me ready for dis," said Vondi earnestly. "Me be da *best* help you ever had." "I hope so," said Mary sincerely. Standing up, she smoothed some transitory wrinkles out of her skirts and headed for the door. "Let's start with the kitchen..." -- Clay Colwell "If homosexuality is a disease, then let's all call archmage@vnet.ibm.com in queer to work." - Robin Tyler IBM Austin, TX Disclaimer: This is *Clay* talkin', not IBM.