Sime/Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #12: Flight of the Bum Bum Bee (6/7/98)
Captain Peton gathers his men together and follows "the victim" down the street.
Sergeant Bob keeps a close eye on the snitch, who looks kinda disreputable.
Sergeant Bob isn't quite sure what a "junct Farris rogue channel" is, but it sounds like it could create a bunch of paperwork.
Captain Peton has noticed something odd in "the victim's" nager but can't quite put his laterals on what it is.
Bum Bum is trying to appear innocent and battered.
Captain Peton isn't a trusting man, and assumes that "the victim" is hiding something.
Bum Bum: Look uh, do I have to get too close? I mean, once you've identified her, I can just stand back right?
Police Man Fred squares his shoulders and tries to look up to bringing in a Farris of any description.
Bum Bum: [nervously]
Sergeant Bob: You stick around. We may have ta question you some more.
Bum Bum still has a fairly vivid memory of what had happened only a few hours before.
Sergeant Bob like questioning, as long as it's simple.
Bum Bum grimaces but acquiesces.
Captain Peton: That's right sir, just keep out of our way and let us do the work.
Bum Bum brightens at Captain Peton's words.
Police Man Fred: How long has the suspect been working at the Carnival?
Bum Bum: Only a couple of days.
Police Man Fred is wondering if the suspect has built up a possible following that might cause trouble.
Bum Bum: But she's already got half the carnival shaking their fists at her [adds helpfully]
Captain Peton turns to Sergeant Bob.
Captain Peton: We might need you to step in and take charge if this Rogue Farris tries any tricks on us.
Sergeant Bob squares his shoulders.
Captain Peton isn't nervous, he isn't imaginative enough. He is just cautious.
Sergeant Bob: Sure thing, Captain.
Police Man Fred is pleased by the sound of that.
Bum Bum lifts a finger and starts to mention the short work Snake made of Gianto, then decides the better of it.
Sergeant Bob lacks even the Captain's share of imagination.
Police Man Fred always liked the sight of a carnival as a kid. Now, the bright tents that come into view have a definite menace about them.
Sergeant Bob: Them carnie folks look pretty shifty.
Bum Bum zlins Police Man Fred's apprehension and becomes increasingly nervous himself.
Captain Peton: Stay close together men, and remember, we don't want outsiders involved in this.
Bum Bum obligingly crowds Captain Peton.
Bum Bum: Are you sure you guys can guarantee my safety?
Captain Peton indicates to "the victim" to lead from behind.
Bum Bum: [nervously]
Captain Peton: We will do our best sir.
Sergeant Bob drops back to bracket Bum Bum on the other side, making escape difficult.
Bum Bum: Go all the way through... they're set up behind the big yellow and blue tent by the treeline.
Bum Bum feels reassured by being surrounded by cops.
Captain Peton: Bob, you take Bumanuel here around the right of the tent, Fred, you come with me.
Bum Bum: What!!
Bum Bum: I can't go back there!
Police Man Fred: Right you are sir!
Bum Bum hurriedly starts back the way they came.
Sergeant Bob: Sure. Should I make sure he doesn't run off while we're busy, Captain?
Captain Peton: We need you to identify the suspect.
Sergeant Bob reaches out and grabs Bum Bum.
Bum Bum: You can't miss her! Black cape... looks like a Farris - urk!
Bum Bum: Watch what you're doing! Ow.
Bum Bum 's tentacles squirm.
Captain Peton: Don't be afraid, there.
Police Man Fred pulls out his too.
Captain Peton pulls out his baton.
Police Man Fred thinks it's better to be ready, just in case.
Sergeant Bob: Here, now. You can't go running off like that.
Captain Peton: One more thing before we split up - is she past turnover?
Sergeant Bob decides to make sure of it, and handcuffs Bum Bum to his own wrist.
Captain Peton thinks Bob has forgotten that this scumbag, er person, is the victim here.
Bum Bum: Um... I think today is her turnover, actually.
Sergeant Bob is sure this sleazy informant is no better than the scum he fingered.
Bum Bum looks at the handcuff in dismay.
Captain Peton: Hmmm. Sergeant, you be careful. We are dealing with a junct channel, possibly in need.
Bum Bum hopes he doesn't have to find out what will happen to his sheathes if Bob gets excited and starts thrashing around.
Captain Peton: Ready men?
Sergeant Bob: Sure thing, Boss.
Bum Bum thinks, at least they haven't brought out any retainers yet.
Sergeant Bob starts around the tent, dragging Bum Bum along after him.
Bum Bum: Oh... Oww!
Bum Bum hurries after, nursing his wrist.
Captain Peton leads Police Man Fred down the left of the big blue and yellow tent (which belongs to Chuffa the sword swallower)
Wise Snake is in the middle of healing some guy's neck injury and fails to notice the world around her.
Police Man Fred hurries after them.
Captain Peton rounds the corner and finds the suspect doing suspicious things to a guy's neck.
Bum Bum: That's her! That's her... now let me out of here!
Bum Bum tries to weasel his hand out of the handcuff.
Bum Bum is also pulling Bob backward.
Sergeant Bob grins, pulls out his baton, and advances.
Captain Peton: Halt! [in the age old fashion of police officers everywhere]
Bum Bum: What are you DOING!!
Police Man Fred stands ready for the suspect to flee under augmentation.
Bum Bum's heels dig up furrows into the dirt as the handcuff digs a furrow into his wrist.
Sergeant Bob notes the drag, and takes a quick step towards Bum Bum.
Wise Snake in fine Farris form is utterly absorbed in her work... although it's finally beginning to dawn that something is going on outside.
Sergeant Bob grabs Bum Bum around the waist and lifts him off of his feet, preventing further foot-dragging.
Captain Peton puts a hand on the suspect's shoulder.
Wise Snake jumps up wildly.
Wise Snake: What the - ~~shock~~
Sergeant Bob continues to advance on Snake, carrying Bum Bum under one arm.
Bum Bum: Aiigh!
Captain Peton: You are under arrest for battery, kidnapping, disturbing the ambient....
Sergeant Bob: HALT IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!
Sergeant Bob has always liked yelling that particular phrase.
Wise Snake takes one look at the cops and Bum Bum (who has obviously been arrested) and turns and runs like a rabbit.
Captain Peton: Kidnapping and practicing medicine without a licence....
Wise Snake dodges wildly to discourage accurate shooting.
Wise Snake: Feet don't fail me now!
Captain Peton: Wounding in attempt to heal, healing with intent to wound....
Captain Peton: You have the right to remain silent. Anything we zlin can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Bum Bum: Come back here you coward!!!!
Bum Bum: [anguished shout]
Police Man Fred takes off in hot pursuit.
Sergeant Bob starts to jog after Snake, still carrying Bum Bum under his arm.
Bum Bum: Ow! Ow! Awwiiiii.
Police Man Fred has this special job as his own, he is in constant training for his speed and stamina.
Captain Peton sits down and lets Fred do his job.
Captain Peton starts to question the suspect's latest victim.
Wise Snake, having been raised on the street, instinctively aims for heavy crowds.
Sergeant Bob tries his best to keep up, knowing that Fred may require a steady Gen nager when he finally manages to corner the suspect.
Police Man Fred weaves in and out of the crowd.
Police Man Fred knocks a few over on the way.
Wise Snake dodges in and around the people, trying to match her nager to the crowd.
Wise Snake tries not to display ~~panic~~
Police Man Fred manages to keep the black head in sight.
Wise Snake: Don't panic... don't panic... think now.
Sergeant Bob jogs down the path cleared by the other two.
Wise Snake darts in among some support tents.
Captain Peton: You slipped in what sir?
Captain Peton takes notes, you never know where a piece of vital evidence will turn up.
Sergeant Bob trips over a body and falls.
Police Man Fred nimbly jumps over tent ropes.
Bum Bum: Aaaghh!!! Watch what you're doing you great muscled oaf!!
Police Man Fred: Halt!
Police Man Fred: Stop in the name of the law!
Sergeant Bob gets to his feet, hefts Bum Bum once more, and continues in hot pursuit.
Wise Snake skids panting around a tight turn and dodges into heavy crowds again, this time crouched low, putting on a burst of speed.
Wise Snake: Shen... shen... shen!
Bum Bum: Ooaahahhhh!!
Police Man Fred starts to gain.
Bum Bum grips Sergeant Bob's head, trying to relieve the pressure on his wrist.
Wise Snake doubles back without warning and dives behind a fruit stand with a huge crowd of Gens waiting in line in front of it.
Wise Snake: ~~Gen~~
Linn looks up from the cherries.
Linn: Snake!
Linn: What are you doing here?
Police Man Fred ducks around and follows the distinctive black head.
Police Man Fred makes a flying tackle and flings himself at it.
Wise Snake instinctively curls in a ball to protect her laterals.
Police Man Fred knocks over three other people on the way.
Police Man Fred grabs the suspect around the ankles.
Police Man Fred: Police!
Linn: What is the matter?
Police Man Fred: You have
Police Man Fred: The right.
Police Man Fred puffs slightly.
Wise Snake uncurls and, jerking herself towards him with her legs, jabs him hard in the eyes with her two hands [fingers in a point]
Police Man Fred: Ouch!
Police Man Fred clutches his face, letting go of the legs.
Police Man Fred: My eyes!!!! My eyes!!!!
Police Man Fred zlins around for her.
Wise Snake kicks him hard in the chest, knocking herself away.
Sergeant Bob trots up, still carrying Bum Bum.
Wise Snake: Linn [panting] please get the hell out of here!
Police Man Fred goes flying back into the crowd, feeling bones break in his chest in a sickening way.
Sergeant Bob: Hey! You can't do that!
Sergeant Bob is rather sure of this, since he went to Cop School.
Wise Snake climbs to her feet and runs like crazy, this time toward the edge of the fairgrounds.
Bum Bum: Oh... oh... put me down... oh....
Bum Bum: [weakly]
Captain Peton takes the latest "victim's" name and address and lets him go about his legitimate business.
Captain Peton puts away his notebook and wonders why Fred isn't back with the suspect yet.
Wise Snake at this point is thinking nothing but "flee flee avoid avoid".
Sergeant Bob trots off in pursuit.
Sergeant Bob is, however, a Gen carrying quite a weight, and quickly falls behind.
Captain Peton: Hmmmm, I guess I should see where they went.
Captain Peton is starting to worry.
Captain Peton wanders out into the crowd in the slow, flat-footed policeman's way.
Bum Bum: Come on, put me down... I didn't do anything!
Bum Bum: [becoming really irritatingly whiny]
Sergeant Bob decides he really can't expect to catch up with the suspect while carrying a witness.
Sergeant Bob stops by a young tree.
Captain Peton evenually tracks down Sergeant Bob and the victim.
Captain Peton: Report Sergeant????
Bum Bum: Those bungling idiots let her get away!!
Captain Peton looks sad.
Captain Peton: Ah well sir, these things happen.
Captain Peton: Where is Police Man Fred?
Sergeant Bob: Sir, Officer Fred tackled her, but she kicked him and escaped.
Sergeant Bob: I am in hot pursuit.
Bum Bum: And your buddy is probably gasping out his life back there on the asphalt.
Sergeant Bob wipes the sweat from his brow to demonstrate hotness.
Police Man Fred is on his back, blood bubbling out of his mouth, moaning.
Bum Bum actually rather enjoys this image and attempts to hide it from his nager.
Captain Peton: She attacked a police officer!
Captain Peton jumps to attention.
Bum Bum almost automatically says "well he attacked her first" but then remembers the cops are on HIS side for once. Well, kinda.
Sergeant Bob: Should I sound an "all forces" alert, Sir?
Captain Peton: Sergeant! Call for backup! I'll reconnoiter the forces in this area and see that Fred gets Channel attention!
Bum Bum thinks Fred has gotten maybe a little too much channel attention recently, but keeps his silence.
Captain Peton: Definitely! Call out the military! Mobilise the Home Guard!
Captain Peton: We can't have people going around attacking police officers!
Sergeant Bob: Yes, Sir!
Bum Bum: Er... can you guys un-handcuff me now?
Bum Bum: Please?
Captain Peton: And uncuff that scum, err, victim!
Bum Bum: ~~relief~~
Bum Bum: Thank you thank you!
Sergeant Bob: He might run away!
Sergeant Bob considers, which takes all his effort.
Sergeant Bob: Here.
Sergeant Bob uncuffs his own wrist, and latches the bracelet around the young tree.
Sergeant Bob steps back and inspects his handiwork.
Sergeant Bob: There. He'll stay right there, until we want him.
Bum Bum looks at his wrist, then the wrist-width tree.
Bum Bum sighs.
Captain Peton is too worried about the fact that someone hurt a policeman to worry about the original victim in this mess - it's all his fault anyway.
Police Man Fred recovers enough to get painfully to his feet.
Sergeant Bob: I'll summon reinforcements right away, Sir!
Bum Bum: Well, at least you had her flustered enough she didn't pull out the knife.
Captain Peton marshalls some interested bystanders to help him find Police Man Fred and get him to medical help.
Bum Bum: Or manage to catch him alone....
Bum Bum scratches his head with his free hand.
Bum Bum wonders when they'll leave so he can break the tree in half and escape.
Sergeant Bob trots off for the tavern, where the town's military might is gathered at the Retired Officers Club, playing poker and lying about what they did in the Sime Wars.
Bum Bum sees them leave and grabs the tree, starts working the handcuff upward, and bending the tree downward, as he goes.
Bum Bum: Ow... ow... hey! [gets a splinter]
Captain Peton finds Fred and has him carried off for medical attention.
Captain Peton organises a search of the carnival grounds.
Bum Bum breaks off small branches to allow the handcuff to bump over the stumps.
Bum Bum is hot, sweaty, panting and annoyed.
Bum Bum now has several splinters.
Bum Bum braces his foot underneath a nearby tent stake as bending the tree down gets more and more difficult.
Bum Bum finally gets to a narrow enough part of the tree to snap off the crown and carefully slide the handcuff off the splintered end.
Bum Bum: [ow! more splinters]
Lieutenant Myers is quickly brought up to date on the problem and starts a military search to assist the police.
Bum Bum: [the tent stake pops out of the ground and the tree whips back upright; unfortunately Bum Bum was still hanging on to it]
Lieutenant Myers gets Sergeant Bob a drink as it looks as though he has been through the wars himself.
Bum Bum: Whaaa!!
Bum Bum soars briefly over the fairgrounds.
Bum Bum: Aaiaiiaiaiaiaiiaiaiiiii!!!!
Sergeant Bob raises his glass in a toast to all octogenarians who treat upstanding officers to refreshment.
Bum Bum lands with a crash in a small tent, which collapses.
Captain Peton: [many people from that day forward truly believe a man can fly]
Snow screams as her tent collapses around her.
Bum Bum's tent stake lands beside his head, embedding itself with a solid thud in the ground... and the tent, and everything else between.
Bum Bum wails.
Sergeant Bob leads the valiant, if arthritic, forces into the fray.
Bum Bum realizes he isn't dead and pushes himself up, looking around dazed.
Snow struggles to get out from under the heavy weight.
Bum Bum follows the progress of the moving lump, still looking confused.
Snow crawls out from under the tent.
Snow is already starting to get some colour on her albino skin - bright blue bruises.
Lieutenant Myers shouts a lot.
Lieutenant Myers stays near the bar to make sure he is available as a center command point.
Snow pokes her head out into the daylight.
Sergeant Bob notices that his forces are wheezing, and more than a few are weaving as well.
Snow looks up at Bum Bum in confusion.
Bum Bum: ... sorry.
Bum Bum gets to his feet, and steps (limps) gingerly off of the canvas.
Snow: Do you always drop in unexpected like that?
Bum Bum: Terribly sorry... it was totally unintentional, I can assure you.
Sergeant Bob slows his pace.
Bum Bum rubs his sore back.
Snow looks in dismay at the ruins of her tent.
Bum Bum looks totally beat up.
Bum Bum: You wouldn't believe what I just went through.
Bum Bum rubs his sore wrist, wincing as the splinters work their way in.
Bum Bum tries to pick some out with his fingers.
Sergeant Bob: Search carefully, men. This criminal assaulted an officer!
War Hero spreads out to search carefully for the criminal.
War Hero is unfortunately hard of hearing, and didn't catch the criminal's name or description.
Snow looks at the blood on the flying man's wrist and feels very faint.
Bum Bum: Are... you all right?
War Hero wishes he were back in uniform; this is the most excitement he's had in years.
Snow: Your wrist.... [points weakly]
War Hero is so excited that his heart races dangerously, and he has to stop to rest.
Bum Bum: It'll heal.
Bum Bum hides it selfconsciously behind him.
Snow feels faint and sits down suddenly. As there is nothing behind her to sit on she falls on her behind.
Bum Bum finds it very hard to play the "super channel" when what he really wants to whine, but necessity is the bugbear of small minds... or whatever it is they say.
Bum Bum: Oh!
War Hero pats his shirt pockets, trying to find his medicine.
Bum Bum hastens to help her.
Bum Bum zlins her to determine her condition.
Bum Bum blinks and zlins her a 2nd time.
Lieutenant Myers has to keep himself alert to organise, so orders another drink to help.
Bum Bum: Do you always zlin like this!!
Snow appears to have no nager.
Snow: Oh yes, I'm "Snow, no colour, no nager".
Bum Bum: I'll say!
War Hero appears to have lost his nitro tablets.
War Hero: ~~ worry ~~
Bum Bum is glad Snake didn't get a chance to zlin this lady or they'd NEVER find her.
War Hero: ~~ racing heart ~~
Figure moves subtly into view, some distance away, watching the War Hero.
War Hero: ~~ pain ~~
War Hero staggers forward, looking for a real bench to sit on.
Snow realises what was on Bum Bum's wrists as well as blood.
Snow: Oh my!!!
Snow wiggles back.
Snow: Are you a criminal?
Bum Bum: No.
Snow: Oh.
Bum Bum stays where he is.
Bum Bum: I'm a friend of Aqua's. Do you know her?
Snow: Oh yes!
Tecton Channel approaches War Hero.
Snow: Of course I do.
Snow: Well, do you need help?
Tecton Channel: Sir... Sir?
Tecton Channel zlins him.
Snow thinks this person needs help.
Bum Bum: Yes... yes, actually [relief]
Snow: You know, there was a channel set up to heal people, maybe we should let her look at your wrist?
War Hero, being mostly deaf, doesn't realize he's being addressed.
Bum Bum: I have to get inside out of this sun.
Bum Bum: No! Er... can we go to Aqua's?
Bum Bum: [pleading]
Snow: Sure! Come wiff me!
Bum Bum: ~~relieved~~
Captain Peton has made sure that the injured Fred is receiving attention and has organised for some 1sts to zlin and some bloodhounds to sniff.
Tecton Channel zlins him, then hastily opens a small medical pouch.
Tecton Channel removes some tablets and gives them to War Hero.
War Hero finally notices the channel, and gratefully puts a tablet under his tongue.
War Hero: Thanks, youngster.
War Hero: Got to stay in shape to catch the criminal.
Bloodhound sniffs from the temporary camp of the suspect and outwards... unfortunately there aren't many places Snake hasn't been around the carnival and they get nothing but muddled.
Tecton Channel: Criminal?
Tecton Channel looks the fellow over.
War Hero: Yes. The whole reserve is looking.
Hajene Sil is one of the channels called in to help and is zlinning the crowd for anything suspicious.
War Hero: That young police feller called out the reserves.
War Hero straightens up proudly.
Hajene Val: Who are you searching for?
Hajene Val thinks it sounds fairly serious.
War Hero pauses, realizing that he doesn't really know.
War Hero: A criminal. Attacked an orifice.
Hajene Val: A what!
War Hero at least thinks that's what he sort of heard.
Hajene Val zlins his confusion and decides that couldn't have been right.
Hajene Val: I... see.
War Hero: A sorry crime.
War Hero: I don't know what the world is coming to.
Hajene Val: Maybe you should come back with me. We have a medical tent set up with cots to lie down on, in the shade.
Hajene Val nods in agreement.
Hajene Sil zlins her way through the crowd thinking that this is a total waste of time, anyone fitting the description she was given, given that it was accurate, would be long gone by now!
Hajene Val: Certainly, ah, orifice crimes are, uh.
War Hero: Now, when I was young, we didn't have any orifice attacks to worry about.
Hajene Val winces.
War Hero: Can't rest. Must do my duty.
Hajene Val: Er, is that so?
Hajene Val: Please, sir, try not to work too hard, all right? You don't want to get injured.
War Hero has no intention of missing the excitement.
Hajene Val takes his leave of War Hero and keeps walking through the crowds.
War Hero hears only one word in two.
War Hero: Yes, I was injured in the wars.
War Hero: But I'm still able to do my duty when the public welfare is threatened.
War Hero isn't quite sure which orifice was attacked, but it sounds really dreadful.
Hajene Val left about 5 of War Hero's lines ago, his leaving evidently entirely unremarked by War Hero.
Snow leads Bum Bum to Aquas tent and tells the story rather excitedly of how he fell out of the sky.
War Hero continues to lecture the pavement on his war record as he wanders further and further away from the fair.
Aqua takes his hand and examines his wrist.
Bum Bum tries to appear battered and innocent... which he actually is, more or less, if you only consider this past day's activities.
Aqua wonders if her only physical contact with this man will be medicinal.
Nick heads back to the tent, and discovers to his surprise that Snake is nowhere to be found.
Eliza wanders in and sits down.
Eliza: I can't find Bumanuel anywhere.
Eliza: Where is Snake?
Nick: I can't seem to find her.
Eliza: You mean we have lost both channels?
Eliza thinks that is terribly careless of them.
Search continues.
Nick looks up as Linn comes in.
Nick: Have you seen Snake?
Search widens to take in the area of the town immediately adjacent to the carnival.
Linn: Yes, earlier. She was being chased by a policeman.
Eliza finds some water and pours a drink.
Eliza splutters.
Eliza: By WHAT?!
Eliza: Was Bumanuel around then?
Linn: Um....
Linn thinks.
Linn: I seem to remember him being carried by another policeman, who went off after Snake.
Eliza looks at Nick.
Eliza: I think we should pack up.
Eliza: Snake can find us more easily then we can find her, and if the police are looking for her....
Nick: You're right. Where's Griff?
Eliza: Who knows, I can't even keep track of Bumanuel.
Eliza: I think that splitting up the way we did might have been a bad idea.
Eliza starts to pack up the few things they have.
Eliza: I'll take these to the horses and get them saddled up if you like, while you look for Griff.
Eliza: Look in the lion's cage first, that's where he was last time.
Nick: All right. If I'm not back in half an hour, leave, and I'll meet out outside of town.
Eliza: In which direction?
Nick: West.
Nick: We've been traveling west, so that's the direction Snake will look for us.
Eliza: Okay.
Nick leaves to search for Griff.
Eliza heads off towards the stables carrying the medicine bag.
Fiaero walks up to their camp, where nobody but Linn is standing.
Fiaero looks around.
Linn sees Fiaero.
Fiaero is a very tall, light-framed, emaciated renSime wearing a funny hat.
Linn: Can I help you?
Fiaero is also wearing two skinned knees, a cut forehead and funny red dents on his arms.
Fiaero: Yes. [smiles]
Fiaero: Could you direct me to the channel?
Linn: I'm sorry. The channels are no longer available here.
Linn: Try the Tecton tent.
Fiaero: Oh. [disappointed]
Fiaero: Is Eliza here?
Linn: What do you want with Eliza? [suspicion]
Eliza saddles the horses as quickly as possible and hopes that no one asks her to update the payment for their board.
Fiaero seems surprised by Linn's reaction and studies her again, cautiously.
Fiaero: I just wanted to say hello to her. She seemed like a nice person when I met her this morning.
Linn: I see.
Linn: Well, she's not available, either.
Fiaero actually got banged up on purpose just to have an excuse to visit the channels to see Eliza again, but he's not about to admit that.
Linn feels a bit responsible for the younger members of the party.
Fiaero looks downcast, and a bit sheepish.
Fiaero: Will they be back tomorrow?
Linn: Perhaps.
Eliza thinks maybe she should lead the horses out now, while no one is around.
Linn thinks it's better not to tell this stranger that they are preparing to skip town.
Eliza gets them organised, three to a hand, and leads them out of the stables.
Fiaero brightens.
Fiaero: Okay. I'll try back then.
Fiaero: If you see Eliza, could you tell her Fiaero said hello?
Linn: I'll be sure to do so.
Linn: ~~ firm dismissal ~~
Fiaero smiles.
Fiaero: Thank you.
Fiaero's smile wavers at the tone of Linn's nager.
Fiaero turns and leaves.
Nick returns, dragging a reluctant Griff behind.
Nick: I didn't see anything of Bum Bum or Snake.
Eliza ties the horses up outside a building and sits down to wait.
Nick picks up a bundle.
Nick: Let's move out while we can.
Eliza doesn't realise that the building is the birthplace of Klyd Farris.
Nick leads Griff and Nick to the stable.
Curator sees Eliza sitting there and steps out, beaming eagerly.
Curator: Hello. Have you been to see the museum?
Eliza jumps in shock.
Eliza: I don't know! What museum?
Eliza: ~~ I didn't do it! It was like that when I arrived! ~~
Curator points proudly to a sign on the door: "Hattertorn Sime Center and Police Station: Birthplace of Klyd Farris"
Curator: We have a commemorative room. Would you like to view it? It's only 1 copper.
Curator: [beams]
Eliza vaguely remembers the name... from THE BOOK!!!!!
Eliza: Oh yes!!!! I would! But I don't have any money.
Eliza: ~ disappointed ~
Curator: Oh. That's too bad. Well, come in on a Thursday; we have free admission before 7pm on Thursdays.
Curator: [a smaller sign, underneath the other and in not-so-proud letters, reads: This building has been condemned for lack of structural integrity"]
Eliza sighs.
Eliza: Thank you very much, but I can't. We are leaving in half an hour.
Curator: Oh, I see.
Curator looks at the horses.
Nick joins Eliza with the others.
Eliza looks woebegone.
Nick: No, actually, we're leaving now.
Eliza: I read about Klyd Farris in a book.
Curator beams brightly as he sees Nick, Linn and Griff.
Nick starts attacking baggage to saddles.
Eliza: Oh ~ regret ~
Curator: Would you care to make a quick visit to the museum before you go?
Curator: It's only 1 copper apiece... and the birthplace of Klyd Farris!
Eliza: Nick, maybe we should wait here for her for awhile?
Eliza: ~ hopefully ~
Nick: No.
Dabe R and Dabe L come walking up the street.
Nick saw several official types running around while he was trying to find Griff.
Eliza sees a strange shape coming and blinks.
Nick gets on his horse.
Eliza is sure she has seen that particular shape before.
Curator: Very well then. Have a nice journey....
Curator goes in the building and slams the door [making the building sway ominously]
Eliza looks at the building again and wonders if the secret of junct transfer lies within.
Nick: Eliza! We've got to go.
Eliza climbs up on Flossie.
Dabe R: Heya Eliza!
Dabe R waves as they walk past.
Nick nods at Linn and Griff, who are already mounted.
Dabe L: Hi!
Dabe L: [as soon as they are past, demands, "Who was that???"]
Dabe R: Beats me, she just looked like this girl Eliza who was at the Bender Cove Sime Center.
Eliza waves and trots after them.
Nick leads the way westward, keeping an eye out for Snake or Bum Bum.
Eliza: Nick, do you have a plan?
Nick: Yes. Getting far away from here.
Eliza: What about finding Snake?
Eliza doesn't mention Bumanuel again.
Nick: With any luck, she'll find us.
Wise Snake is waiting about 5 miles out of town, to the west, which was as far as she got before panic gave way to common sense.
Wise Snake: [no... let's be completely honest here.. before panic gave way to realization she was going to give herself a heart attack if she kept going]
Wise Snake is sitting glumly among a pile of insulating boulders, generally hating life.
Eliza: Nick, we could "call" her.
Nick: Any call she might zlin could be zlinned by the searchers as well.
Nick: No. Our nagers are call enough.
Nick: After all, there's only one road going west.
Eliza: Oh yeah I guess.
Nick hopes that he guessed right about where Snake would go.
Eliza holds tight to Bumanuel's horse and kicks Flossie to go faster.
Nick anxiously scans the roadside for reptilian spoor.
Eliza hopes that she will find them.
Eliza puts out a general little ~ here I am ~
Wise Snake looks up again to zlin down the road, and actually zlins them... some of them.
Nick looks at the tracks in the dusty road, wishing he had the faintest idea what they meant.
Wise Snake jumps up and goes back to the road, starts walking back toward them.
Eliza: THERE SHE IS!!!!!
Nick changes his search from one road side to the other, and in the process discovers Snake on the actual road.
Nick: Snake!
Nick: ~~ unutterable relief ~~
Eliza kicks Flossie into a canter towards Snake.
Nick keeps Pumpkin to a trot, being a city boy not comfortable with horses yet.
Eliza pulls to a stop and slides off in the same movement to grab Snake in a bear hug.
Eliza: Are you okay? Did they hurt you?
Nick regrets the trot as he jounces in the saddle.
Wise Snake lets Eliza crush her.
Wise Snake: I'm fine... I'm fine.
Wise Snake: They never really got their hands on me.
Wise Snake: [for long, she thinks]
Eliza blubbers all over her.
Nick hangs on until he reaches Snake, then abandons the animated torture device.
Eliza reluctantly moves back to Nick can reach her.
Nick takes Snake's hands and inspects her closely for damage.
Nick has learned that asking a Farris channel about personal injuries is a lost cause.
Eliza fetches Flossie and Bumanuel's horse from the side of the road.
Wise Snake looks like she became completely drenched in sweat and had some time to dry off partially.
Wise Snake appears to be dirty but uninjured.
Nick wrinkles his nose at the powerful odor coming from his channel.
Nick: You look all right, but we'll have to find you a place to bathe, or you won't find many customers willing to let to you work on them.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Eliza leads the horses back over.
Eliza: Snake, what are you going to do about Bumanuel?
Nick turns his attention briefly towards Linn, to make it clear whom Snake will have to deal with if refuses his advice.
Wise Snake isn't too worried, as Linn hasn't shown much interest in Snake's hygiene or general health lately.
Wise Snake scowls at the mention of Bum Bum.
Wise Snake: I should have taken him out when I had the chance.
Eliza: Should we wait for him? Should I go back for him?
Wise Snake: Leave him.
Nick: Was he behind all this?
Wise Snake frowns.
Wise Snake: I wouldn't think so. He's never had good luck with the police.
Wise Snake: And he was in hand cuffs when they surprised me.
Eliza: Do they know he is junct do you think?
Wise Snake: They've probably given him over to the Tecton already, if they do.
Nick: It would depend on whether they have a channel examine him. Was he injured?
Wise Snake: Not when I saw him.
Wise Snake thinks, at least no more injured when she'd seen him the time before.
Eliza looks up quickly.
Nick: Well, maybe they'll just keep him in jail.
Eliza: He will die either way, won't he?
Wise Snake shrugs uneasily.
Eliza is fighting to keep her nager neutral.
Wise Snake: We can't go back for him.
Wise Snake: It's too dangerous.
Nick: If he gets away from the police, he knows which direction we were heading.
Eliza knows if he gets away from the police that Snake is the last person he will want to see, and possibly she is pretty far down on the list too.
Wise Snake: We'd better get going.
Wise Snake reaches for Freelance's reins.
Eliza slides back up onto Flossie.
Wise Snake: We're going to have to find some way to disguise ourselves as much as possible.
Wise Snake: And soon.
Nick reluctantly straddles Pumpkin.
Eliza: You know I was thinking about that.
Eliza: You could dye your hair, Snake.
Nick wonders what sort of disguise could make Snake seem like anything but a Farris channel.
Eliza: If we bleached it, well, you wouldn't look so much like a Farris then.
Wise Snake nods, not liking the idea but liking the idea of capture even less.
Wise Snake: And you were right about clothing and essential supplies.
Eliza blushes.
Wise Snake: If we even dream of going to another one of those fairs, we'll have to get a tent.
Eliza goes all tingly.
Wise Snake stares at Eliza oddly.
Eliza: [no one has ever told her she was right about ANYTHING before EVER!]
Eliza opens and shuts her mouth a few times.
Eliza: Thank you Snake!
Wise Snake looks confused.
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Nick: We can disguise her appearance, but Farris-level channeling will be much harder to hide.
Eliza mind starts working overtime on ways to please Snake.
Wise Snake gets them moving along the road as they talk.
Eliza: I could go buy the bleach and say it's for me, that way no one will think that it's to disguise you.
Nick: Why not just let them assume it's for laundry?
Eliza: And if you wore something more, or less, ummm.
Eliza looks witheringly at Nick.
Nick: Come to think of it, we should probably use some of it for laundry!
Eliza: It's a different sort of bleach Nick!
Wise Snake looks down at what she wears and tries to figure out what's wrong with it.
Wise Snake: [aside from the black cape screaming "Farris" that is]
Eliza: Do you remember Seezi?
Eliza: You should dress more like that.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza in dumbfoundment; why would she memorize something like what a kid in changeover was wearing at the time?
Wise Snake of course doesn't think it's odd that she had memorized a lot of other things like the amount of selyn dispensed to the 34th decimal place.
Eliza: You should get rid of that cape too.
Wise Snake: I will. [testily]
Eliza is happy making over Snake in her head.
Wise Snake fingers her sweater, which though in very sad condition after all it's been put through, is still her favorite piece of clothing.
Wise Snake braces herself to be very obstinate on the subject of the sweater.
Wise Snake isn't worried about Linn not backing her up on THAT subject.
Eliza: I don't suppose we can stop any time soon can we?
Wise Snake: For what?
Wise Snake zlins Eliza.
Eliza: Zlin us Snake, we haven't slept for ages!
Eliza: ~ tired ~
Wise Snake: Ummh.
Eliza: This is too close to town though.
Wise Snake: All right, all right. In a couple of hours.
Wise Snake: And not near the road.
Eliza: Okay.
Eliza wonders what Bumanuel is doing.
Nick resigns himself to saddle sores.
Wise Snake would feel guilty about keeping the Gens awake 48 hours, if only she weren't so busy fearing for her freedom, and also worrying about entran starting up again soon.
Eliza realises guiltily that she hasn't thought about Mostan for awhile.
Nick then reflects optimistically that without another source of work for Snake, saddle sores are unlikely to trouble him for long.
Wise Snake sighs.
Eliza realises she may be leading Bumanuel's horse for a long time and reaches back to tie it onto her saddle.
Eliza sways dangerously.
Eliza: Oh shen.
Eliza: I have to stop to do this - I'll catch up.
Eliza stops Flos and dismounts.
Eliza ties Dusty's reins to Flossie's saddle then leans on Flossie's flank wearily.
Wise Snake sees Eliza has fallen behind and reins Freelance over to the side of the road.
Wise Snake looks back.
Wise Snake: Eliza!
Eliza: I'm coming!
Eliza climbs back on and trots to catch up.