From alt.pub.dragons-inn Wed Dec 15 09:03:34 1993
Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!crl.dec.com!caen!cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu!344lwkc
Organization: Central Michigan University
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 11:01:35 EST
From: Mike Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Message-ID: <93344.110135344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Kidnap] An(other) Honest Mistake
Lines: 83

[ADMIN: An earlier version of this might have escaped (my cancel), but
this is the one that should be considered canon.  Thanks go to Ben Gerber
and The Dreamer for their input into this.  Comments/questions/etc are
welcomed, per usual.]

That night, I made my way to the Spitting Cobra, putting my earlier mishap
with Vondi behind me.  Actually, the alcohol that had been spilled on me
provided two unusual advantages.  The first was that I wouldn't be expected
to wear my guard's uniform until tomorrow, after it had been cleaned.  Not
that a few hearty guards didn't go to the Cobra, but I felt the grey,
somewhat faded shirt that I now wore allowed me to blend into the crowd
better.

Also, the slight aroma of alcohol I carried provided additional help.  After
all, as I opened the door to the Cobra, the odor that struck my nose was
worse.  My guess was that someone actually decided to *try* the Grakma.  Oh,
well, it was their funeral.

I gave a quick glance around, matching any stare that came my way.  Looking
around, it seemed like the meeting would go easily enough; I saw only one
woman in the bar at the moment.  That wasn't the only thing that made her
stand out, though.  She was attractive (made more so by the ugly faces around
her).  And both her light-brown outfit, which complimented her olive-colored
skin, and her long black hair were clean; not something you might expect in
Low City.  However, any thoughts about her being "soft" were put aside once
her athletic build, the dagger bulging on her side, and her all-business look
were spotted.

Figuring I had done enough inspection, I went over to the bar, and sat on
the stool next to hers.  "Hello there," I said with a small smile.

She gave me a glance that suggested my presence was about as welcome as a
mad dung-slinger.  "Do I know you?" she asked coldly.

"Not yet.  But I know we'll get to know each other better."  The words were
laced with some of the lechery I'd shown last night.  Of course, if it
turned out she didn't like that sort of talk, I could shift to another
approach.

"I seriously doubt that.  Stop bothering me or I'll call for the guard."

I smiled, at what was obviously a bluff.  After all, conflicts in the
Cobra were usually settled personally, and it would be her word against
mine.  Besides, I couldn't think of a better phrase for her to use, to make
sure she was meeting the right person.  I leaned closer and whispered "Ah,
but I _am_ the guard.  The one you're looking for."

That must have been the _last_ thing she expected to hear, because she
turned towards the bar and yelled "_Trawm_!  This guy is hassling me..."

Faster than I thought the sound could travel, the misshapen, scaly, moss
green lump of flesh that was Trawm came bursting into view.  "_Get offa my
fem, ya rat-bastard_!" he bellowed.

'_His_ fem!?!' I thought to myself, momentarily jealous of the physical
condition of whoever had eaten the Grakma.  Fortunately, I regained my
composure before Trawm had a chance to pound me into worse shape.  "Hey, I
didn't mean to cause trouble.  I'm supposed to meet someone named Kim, and
I thought this was her."  I tried to stay tough, even as I was shifting for
a quick exit if needed -- there was no real way I could win a fight versus
Trawm.

Trawm showed no signs of hearing me, until a human, one somewhere in his
teens, stepped in and said, "_I'm_ Kim."

"Oh," I said, feeling a combination of embarrassment and relief.  Not to
mention a bit of anger at my contact from last night.  "As you can guess, I
wasn't exactly told all the details of our job."  I said, while stepping
away from Trawm's looming form.

Trawm dropped his hands, and his tone a little.  "You mean dis *E'Chuta* is
da otter guy we is gonna be workin' with?" he said, pointing at me.

Kim nodded.  "I'm afraid so..."

"Hey, you can count on me to do my part," I spoke up, not wanting to lose
any trust or respect I had.  "As soon as I find out what that might be.  So
Trawm, why don't you direct us to a more private place?..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Love and Peace and Mistaken Identity,
Mike Sander
344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu