From alt.pub.dragons-inn Thu Dec 23 21:37:00 1993
Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!netcomsv!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!sgiblab!sgigate.sgi.com!olivea!news.bu.edu!dartvax.dartmouth.edu!saturn.caps.maine.edu!maine.maine.edu!io80034
Organization: University of Maine System
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1993 16:51:05 EST
From: Lurking in the shadows..... <IO80034@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
Message-ID: <93356.165105IO80034@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: A Stranger Arrives....
Lines: 22


He pushed the door open, allowing the evening breeze into
flirt with the candle flames that illuminated the room.
He paused a moment at the threshold, scanning the room and its
occupants with a weary disinterest before approaching the bar.

He nodded to himself as he wandered across the pub, caked mud
flaking from his boots with each step.  Reaching the far end of
the bar, he allowed his rucksack to slide from his shoulder,
gently depositing it on the floor at his feet.  Slowly, as if
with great effort, he removed his cloak and dropped it atop the
rucksack, and leaned heavily on the bar.

"Ale" he croaked to the bartender, his voice rusty with disuse.
It was a deep voice, too deep to really match his gaunt frame.

The barkeep watched the traveller a moment, then went to fetch
a mug, plunking it down on the bar in front of the stranger.
"Been on the road long?" he asked.

Cracking a vague hint of a smile that brought a glimmer of mischief
to his watery blue eyes, the stranger replied "Forever", and drank.