Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #62: The Scream (11/2/00)
Racknie proudly pats the newly installed furnace/water heater, upon which he has been working all night.
Racknie has discovered that plumbing is just as vital a consideration when installing a water heater as it is when preparing to graft a delicate shoot.
Racknie can't wait to see his creation in action.
Racknie therefore fills the water compartment, then starts a roaring coal fire underneath.
Racknie watches as the temperature gage climbs rapidly to boiling.
Racknie is dancing with delight when a piercing, screeching, high-pitched whistle shatters the early morning calm.
Racknie yells in alarm, fearing that the boiler is going to explode, and runs from the half-built bath house, ducking for cover.
Racknie waits for a minute, but no sound of an explosion ends the screeching.
Racknie notes that said screeching is reverberating across the entire campsite, however.
Racknie makes his way cautiously back to the boiler, and discovers a steady cloud of high-pressure steam emerging from an improperly sealed connection.
Elte jumps, overturning his cup of coffee, at the sound of a piercing shriek.
Racknie's eyes bulge at the sight, then he plunges into the impromptu sauna to inspect the problem more closely.
Riyyh is having a cozy dream about making out with a screamer.
Elte ducks and covers.
Racknie is cringing at the noise, which is unbearable so close to the source.
Riyyh rolls over in bed and snuggles back in, smiling. He soon becomes still once again.
Elte: Get down, Ther!
Thergude looks around at his new boss.
Thergude: Uh, yes Tuib.
Racknie wishes now that he had been in a bit less of a hurry, or at least waited until sunrise to fire up the boiler.
Thergude joins Elte on the floor trying to figure out what is happening.
Elte knows Thergude's pretty savvy about the refugee camp, but he figures the kid has never been in a war zone.
Racknie picks up a thickish, begrimed manual with "Installation and Operating Instructions" on the cover, and runs back outside where the noise is merely excruciatingly loud.
Elte: Cover your head!
Thergude does as he is told.
Edka is giving similar advice to his men, who are a bit more prompt at obeying the order.
Elte awaits the explosion that should follow the horrible mechanical squeal, but it doesn't come.
Thergude: Tuib Elte, what're we hidin' from?
Elte is beginning to feel rather foolish huddled on the floor with his butt in the air.
Racknie puts the manual down and runs back to fetch his lantern, so he can actually read it.
Elte: Hey, Ther, ever hear anything like that before?
Thergude: No Tuib.
Arat is far, far away from the Narosian camp. He is, however, a bit of a princess when it comes to noise at night, except during the first few days after transfer.
Arat wakes up and hears the noise and wonders what it is.
Arat thinks it sounds far away and probably not like anything he has to know about.
Elte: So it's not, like, a regular event.
Arat thinks that construction sites are really annoying places.
Arat stares at the darkened ceiling, trying to go back to sleep.
Nick is snoring peacefully, his sleep undisturbed by the attenuated noise.
Thergude: No Tuib.
Jeniard is also sleeping peacefully, and zlinning a bit like a Gen.
Racknie opens to the "startup procedure" section, and skims down the page, trying to find a mention of horrible screeching noises.
Elte thinks the last time he heard a sound like that was when saboteurs blew up the Colum Steamboat.
Elte: Then something's happening.
Elte: Guess we better find out what.
Elte: Come on.
Elte picks himself up from the ground.
Edka has also decided to take action, but he is delayed a bit by the necessity for getting his men dressed, armed and ready for combat.
Sayward turns toward the camp as what sound like someone beating a cat makes it's way all the way dow to the work area.
Edka isn't sure that there's a war on, to be sure, but this is more noise than peace usually generates.
Elte holds a hand out to Thergude to help him up.
Sayward had planned to get some uninterrupted work done this morning.
Racknie reaches the end of the "startup" section without coming across a mention of a loud noise, and more particularly when it's likely to stop.
Thergude: Yes Tuib.
Racknie goes back to read it again, more slowly, in hopes of finding something he overlooked.
Arat begins to hear the noises of booted feet and jingling equipment running back and forth in the camp.
Elte: Get the tripod, on the double!
Arat frowns to himself in the darkness.
Thergude is a bright eyed-youth of about 10 and a half natal.
Racknie 's concentration, never all that great, is not being helped by the noise.
Arat zlins outward, discovering many half-asleep and concerned people.
Thergude: Yes Tuib!
Elte likes using kids for assistants. They know everything, can go anywhere without arousing attention, and they never question what he does.
Thergude feels very lucky to have gotten a job at all let alone one that lets him be near so much fun equipment type stuff.
Thergude gathers up the camera equipment with great care and as much speed as he can muster.
Sayward debates whether she should return to camp or not.
Arat zlins farther, and being somewhat hampered by the hilly terrain, is unable to determine more than that there is a haze of frantic confusion somewhere in the region of the Narosian camp.
Elte grabs his notepad and other work gear and begins triangulating on the source of the uproar.
Racknie tries the index, under "screech", "noise", and "cacophony".
Elte: Follow me.
Sayward decides that if it is something that requires her attention there will be a Sime runner augmenting over to get her. She will wait.
Thergude: Yes, Tuib Elte.
Elte sets out down the hill, with Thergude in tow.
Riyyh squirms around and gets twisted up in the sheets. He still has a smile on his face.
Racknie is unable to find any entries that seem relevant under the first and last, but there is an entry in the troubleshooting section about "noise".
Racknie flips to the page with heartfelt ~~ relief ~~
Ali rubs his head to dispel the hangover, but instead of getting better it seems to drill right through his skull.
Nick turns over, brought half awake by Arat's wakefulness.
Ali knew the stuff Mardith served in her little speak-easy wasn't up to Narosian standards, but he didn't think it was bad enough to cause this much agony.
Racknie finds no mention of noise on the page, and checks the index again.
Nick: Whazza matter?
Ali thinks its so bad the pain might burst his ear-drums.
Ali realizes with relief that Riyyh is no where close, so he isn't hurting the Sectuib.
Racknie discovers after a bad moment that he had misread the page number.
Arat still can't zlin anything worse than confusion and a bad hangover or two.
Arat: It is nothing. Go to sleep.
Nick grunts in relief, and turns over.
Racknie finally locates the right page, and starts reading.
Ali blearily cracks his eyes open a bit, to see that he is somewhere out under the sky and surrounded by bushes.
Nick tries to doze off again, but something keeps niggling at his attention.
Elte moves quickly through the camp, and down the hill.
Nick: What's that noise? [mumbled]
Arat: I don't know.
Arat: It is being investigated.
Elte comes into view of the Narosian encampment. The noise seems to be coming from that direction.
Nick: Oh. Any casualties?
Jeniard wakes up, now that they are talking.
Jeniard: Casualties? What?
Thergude follows Elte as fast as his legs will take him. He is very careful not to damage anything he is carrying.
Elte turns to Thergude.
Elte: Isn't that where those Householders made their camp?
Elte expects a street-wise kid should know the neighborhood.
Racknie's manual is very informative: it informs him that gentle knocking noises can be the result of air trapped in the pipes.
Thergude: Yes, Tuib. [points] The new bathhouse is over there.
Elte: Bathhouse.
Riyyh awakes suddenly, nearly leaping out of the bed.
Elte frowns.
Riyyh: What... who... [looks around startled]
Elte: They built a bathhouse?
Thergude: Yes,Tuib.
Riyyh can zlin a huge crowd of people descending upon the Narosian camp, filled with wonder, horror and annoyance.
Racknie notes that what is blasting through the camp is definitely not a gentle knocking noise, and that therefore bleeding the air out of the pipes is unlikely to help.
Riyyh can hear a very, very loud noise.
Racknie: Oh, dear.
Riyyh can zlin a very worried Racknie.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Elte thought the Sectuib had said the Narosians were here on a relief mission.
Riyyh hurries to pull on some pants.
Elte: Well, lets go see what's what.
Thergude has never "Tuib"ed anyone this much in his entire life but he really needs this job.
Edka's squad moves through the camp in an orderly fashion, guns at the ready, although with the safeties engaged.
Riyyh has witnessed Racknie disasters before, you see.
Elte: Have that camera ready!
Thergude: Yes, Tuib.
Racknie slips inside to inspect the situation once more, in hopes of gaining inspiration.
Elte merrily invokes the age-old slogan "If it bleeds, it leads." The noise sounds like the screech of opportunity.
Elte: And be ready to duck!
Thergude: Yes, Tuib.
Elte thinks another thing he likes about kids; they are quick on their feet.
Riyyh gets his slippers on and runs out of his tent shirtless, hair flying, and with a lipstick mark on his neck.
Riyyh's only thought is for the safety of those in Racknie's immediate vicinity.
Ali realizes he is lying on a soiled blanket.
Racknie discovers inspiration as he'd hoped: he is greatly inspired to get very far away from the noise, as fast as possible.
Ali remembers that when the evening was younger, he had company, but she seems to have left.
Ali hopes he made her as happy as she made him.
Racknie was hoping for a more useful sort of inspiration, that might actually stop the noise.
Riyyh skids around a corner of the bath house and runs into Racknie coming out the door.
Riyyh: Racknie! What have you done!
Riyyh is usually a bit more subtle than this, but he has to yell to be heard.
Racknie is very ~~ relieved ~~ to see his father, grandfather, uncle....
Racknie: Sectuib!
Ali realizes that the screeching isn't coming entirely from inside his head.
Ali gets shakily to his feet.
Riyyh zlins Racknie's relief and realizes it's worse than he thought - Racknie didn't just create a disaster, one has actually gotten out of his control!
Racknie: I was doing a test run on the new water heater.
Racknie: It doesn't seem to be working quite right, yet.
Riyyh rushes into the under-construction building to see for himself.
Racknie looks a bit sheepish.
Racknie follows his Sectuib.
Ali determines with alarm that, in fact, the screeching is coming from the direction of the Householding's new facilities.
Riyyh: What is it doing! [a bit frantically]
Racknie: It's the steam, you see.
Riyyh: I can see that.
Riyyh can see steam coming out of a place he wouldn't have expected it.
Riyyh: Don't just stand there, we have to remove the heat source.
Ali dashes off in that direction, now worried his Sectuib and House-mates may be in trouble.
Racknie looks at the furnace.
Racknie: Stop the furnace?
Riyyh darts forward and opens the coal door, then drops it and backs off as heat breathes out of it.
Edka grimly notes more and more people about, and more disruption.
Riyyh: Shovel it out. It can't burn if there's no fuel.
Elte reaches the Narosian buildings. It certainly looks they have indeed built a bath house.
Racknie: Shovel it out?
Riyyh: Where is the safety valve? There must be a valve of some kind.
Racknie: It's right there!
Riyyh scans the suddenly very numerous and random seeming pipes.
Riyyh: Where?
Racknie proudly points to a shiny new valve.
Riyyh: [flustered]
Riyyh pounces on the valve and opens it.
Racknie: It lets the steam out when it reaches a pressure of....
Elte can see a crowd of people milling about outside the building.
Elte: [shouts] Does anyone know what's happening?
Riyyh stares at it a moment, realizes nothing is coming out, then looks around for the shovel.
Riyyh: Oh, oh, oh.
Riyyh is beyond "oh, dear".
Riyyh: Water. Is there water?
Riyyh seizes the shovel and advances toward the coal hole again.
Elte does not see anyone who looks like they have a clue.
Thergude makes sure he stays close to his employer. With all the adults milling around he could get separated from him and that would not look good.
Racknie: Water? Here.
Elte: Come on, Ther. Advance.
Thergude: Yes, Tuib.
Racknie passes Riyyh a bucket with a few inches left in the bottom, after his tank-filling venture.
Elte pushes his way through the by-standers, clearing a path for Thergude.
Riyyh drops the shovel, snatches the bucket, and heaves the contents into the hole.
Riyyh looks into the bucket when he realizes almost nothing came out, then casts it aside.
Racknie coughs as a fresh wave of steam billows from the coals, which don't seem much disturbed by the treatment.
Riyyh picks up the shovel again.
Elte slips through a gap in the half-finished building.
Riyyh frantically starts scraping red hot coals out onto the stone floor.
Edka tracks the sound to a half-built structure on the edge of camp.
Riyyh: Racknie, get more water and pour it on those. Or sand or dirt.
Riyyh can't even tell if Racknie is listening to him.
Racknie grabs up the bucket, very glad that Sectuib is in charge.
Racknie races out of the building, arms windmilling with effort, bucket wildly swinging.
Riyyh can only summon this kind of heroism when the alternative is even more terrifying. In this case, he thinks the boiler is going to explode and murder them all.
Elte scans the sunken area with the ceramic pipes leading to it. Not much of interest there. The sound comes from further in.
Elte wishes he had brought cotton to stuff in his ears; the noise this close is deafening.
Edka notes someone carrying equipment ahead.
Elte gestures to Thergude to follow.
Thergude watches Elte closely. He can't hear a thing except the awful noise.
Edka much prefers that his men be the only ones with equipment, when there is potential trouble.
Thergude follows right on Elte's heels.
Edka signals for his men to fan out; they can't possibly hear a spoken order.
Elte sees a Gen charge out of a back area, carrying a bucket.
Edka: Halt!
Elte: What's going on?
Riyyh presents an unlikely picture, nude to the waist, begrimed and sweat-shining, hair pointed in all directions and panting heavily. It's a good thing nobody can possibly see him at this point.
Riyyh keeps scraping.
Racknie looks at Elte, wide-eyed.
Racknie: The furnace! Oh, dear.
Elte hears some shouting behind him, but ignores it; the story is in front.
Racknie rushes off to fetch water.
Elte can barely hear Racknie.
Elte pivots, following his target.
Thergude follows.
Elte: [bellowing] What furnace?!!
Racknie pauses, flustered.
Racknie: Oh, dear.
Elte sees Sgt. Edka and a military formation advancing on him from the rear.
Riyyh has finished removing the bulk of the coals, but the noise hasn't even slightly abated. It will take a long time for that much water to cool down. Meanwhile, he is now trapped in the corner with a big heap of red hot coals surrounding him.
Riyyh stands there looking bewildered.
Racknie decides that in this emergency, getting the water Sectuib ordered is more critical than being nice.
Racknie: Oh, dear.
Elte: What's wrong with the furnace?
Racknie trots off to fill his bucket without stopping to talk to Elte.
Racknie will certainly not get any gossip points for such behavior.
Elte shrugs, and waves to Sgt Edka.
Elte: Glad you boys are on the job, Sargent!
Edka recognizes Elte in the light from Racknie's lantern.
Edka: What's going on?
Edka is not above using any good intelligence source available.
Elte: No idea. Something about a furnace.
Elte: After you, Alphonse!
Riyyh pushes back his hair from his sweaty forehead, and leans on the shovel for a moment. The noise, the heat and the steam are making it a bit hard to think rationally, especially after so much augmenting.
Elte has no objection to letting the military take the point.
Elte, after all, is here to report the news, not make it.
Edka grunts, and makes his way cautiously into the building, rifle pointed at the ready.
Elte follows on the soldier's heels.
Thergude follows Tuib.
Elte: [to Thergude] Now don't get in the nice officers' way. And dodge if you think they might fire in your direction.
Thergude has become fond of eating regularly. So have his sisters.
Thergude: Yes, Tuib.
Riyyh pokes hesitantly at some of the coals, thinking if he spreads them out they may cool faster. He wonders where Racknie is with the water. The poor fellow did seem to be in shock... hopefully he hasn't wandered off in a daze.
Edka sees a scene straight out of Dante: the coals scattered across the floor, glowing sullen red through the clouds of steam, the incessant screeching, and in the corner, a wild-haired, half naked, soot-smudged, tentacled figure.
Riyyh looks up in startlement as he sees men with guns and cameras across the same scene.
Elte realizes that an in-T kid might not have had the usual military orientation. The Sime government is remarkably pacifistic for non-humans.
Riyyh's eyes widen.
Edka can, perhaps, be forgiven for failing to recognize Riyyh as a channel, not a pre-Unity Raider.
Edka: Freeze!
Edka s advice is a bit hard to follow, with the sort of heat that the coals and steam are generating.
Elte, following on Edka's tail, recognizes the unmistakable outline of the Sectuib's outrageously fussy regalia, even in the semi-dark.
Riyyh, already badly startled by the guns, reacts to Edka's no-nonsense bark with the only appropriate action; he faints. (against the wall, fortunately)
Edka blinks as the apparition collapses in a heap.
Elte sees Riyyh collapsing into the hot ashes.
Edka lowers his gun.
Edka: Who is that?
Elte darts forward to catch him before he hurts himself.
Edka: And HT, check that furnace!
Elte: Sectuib Riyyh!
Thergude watches wide eyed as the adults seem to be unable to deal with the problem.
Thergude can't figure out why a well fed Sime would faint. Maybe he is sick.
Thergude thinks or drunk.
Riyyh comes to his senses to find himself being held by a good looking man.
Elte can feel the hot coals singing his feet, even through his thick leather boots.
Riyyh smiles at Elte, still not quite sure what happened.
Riyyh: Oh, my.
Elte remembers that when he interviewed the guy who lay on the bed of nails, he gave him a few pointers about firewalking as well.
Edka sets his other men to clearing a path through the coals, using their boots and whatever else is handy.
Elte remembers "move fast" was the key point.
Riyyh hears that the screaming noise has finally abated somewhat, and is relieved.
Elte pulls Riyyh to his feet.
Riyyh's ears are still ringing something fierce.
Riyyh: Oh... my. [clings to Elte]
Elte: Time to leave, Sir.
Elte sees that Riyyh is only wearing slippers, but he has heard that Simes heal fast.
Elte starts half lifting, half dragging Riyyh away from the furnace.
Racknie enters at a run, ignoring the new arrivals, and flings the contents of a very full water bucket in the general direction of the furnace.
Riyyh feels the bite of the coals and reflexively leaps the rest of the way in a rather gazelle-like maneuver, incidentally popping loose of Elte's grasp.
Riyyh: Yeeeoww!
Riyyh: [Disclaimer: Riyyh would ordinarily not be caught dead doing, or saying, that]
Elte gasps as he is doused with part of the bucket of water.
Elte is glad that the Sime has recovered enough sense to run on his own two feet.
Thergude makes sure the equipment is safely out of the way of both the fire and the water.
Elte notes that the shower has a least partially doused the coals in his own path.
Riyyh, whose sudden forward motion had swept up any remaining water that was in mid-air, lands skidding and comes to an abrupt halt by grabbing for the doorway.
Elte hotfoots it back to the safety behind Edka's lines.
Edka lets out a very soldierly string of oaths, which can barely be heard over the noise of the whistle.
Edka reaches out to grab Riyyh's arm, half to steady him, half to prevent escape.
Edka: What's the problem here?
Elte is interested in this answer himself.
Riyyh winces at the strength of Edka's grasp. He looks at Edka in confusion.
Riyyh: Who are you?
Elte: Uh, Sectuib Riyyh, may I introduce Sargeant Edka.
Riyyh hasn't seen a get-up like this since the Gen Army rolled over his little corner of Norwest and nearly took out Naros' eastern wall with cannon fire until a band of raiders drew them farther south.
Elte: Sergeant, this channel is the Sectuib of Householding Naros.
Riyyh thinks that thirty three years between such sightings is too few.
Elte has noticed that Edka sometimes misses the fine points of diplomacy.
Riyyh looks down at the rifle.
Edka can be forgiven for not immediately recognizing Riyyh as a Personage, given his current condition.
Riyyh: Were you going to shoot the furnace?
Edka holds his weapon with the ease of someone who has carried its weight for over thirty years.
Riyyh thinks that might have put it out of its misery, but a bit more permanently than would have been helpful.
Edka: There was no way to tell what the situation was from outside.
Edka checks the safety and slings the weapon across his back.
Elte grins.
Edka refuses to apologize for taking common-sense precautions in the face of an unknown situation.
Riyyh zlins Edka's un-apologetic attitude and wonders if the Sime Territory authorities are aware that there are armed Gen Army on the construction site. He is fairly certain they are not.
Riyyh stares at him for a moment longer, and then covers up with a weak smile.
Thergude wishes he could get away from the awful noise and heat.
Riyyh: Oh... I see.
Elte: Sergeant Edka is chief of the Demolitions Crew. He's the best there is at managing explosives and mechanical mayhem.
Edka: What were you doing with that furnace at this hour, to cause such a ruckus and wake everyone in miles?
Riyyh: There was a steam leak. It should not make that noise when operating properly. We will see that it is prepared.
Riyyh, recovering from his scare, slips rather clumsily into his natural role of over-glosser and peacekeeper.
Elte looks around the room. Unfortunately, the light is too low to allow for good photography.
Riyyh: Apologies are in order, of course. This must have been very disturbing to you all.
Riyyh can zlin (now that he is not so close to the furnace as he was before) that there is quite a crowd gathered outside.
Edka grunts.
Riyyh's tentacles wave a bit in consternation.
Elte gestures to Thergude for the camera anyway.
Edka looks, and zlins, ~~ annoyed ~~ at the disturbance, now that it appears that it wasn't an emergency, after all.
Thergude opens the case and hands the magic box to Elte.
Riyyh looks filthy, sweaty and exhausted.
Riyyh realizes this when he sees the camera coming out.
Riyyh: Oh... no photographs, please.
Elte braces himself against a post and snaps a shot.
Edka breaths a sigh of heartfelt ~~ relief ~~, however, when HT finally manages to bleed enough steam out of the system to stop the noise completely.
Riyyh winces.
Elte thinks the image of the stiff Gen officer and the rumpled Sectuib is priceless, but he doubts it will come out.
Elte snaps another one of HT by the furnace.
Racknie finally notices just how disheveled Sectuib looks, and not necessarily in a charming fashion, either. And in public!
Racknie: Oh, dear.
Riyyh wrings his hands, already planning what he'll have to do to charm Elte out of the film.
Racknie wrings his hands together in distress.
Elte snaps Racknie's hand-wringing.
Riyyh sees Racknie wringing his hands too, and says "Oh, dear." to himself.
Elte: Was anyone hurt?
Riyyh: Oh, my, no.
Riyyh thinks he will be aching for a week after all that exercise, but doubts Elte is looking for that sort of thing.
Racknie: But, oh, dear, look at the mess.
Elte: You looked like you fainted there, and you had your feet in those burning coals.
Racknie looks rather pathetic.
Elte: Are you sure you're okay?
Racknie is rather pathetic, actually.
Riyyh does have a bit of a bump on the head and his feet are starting to blister. Mainly he is concerned with just how much of his hair got scorched.
Riyyh knows some did, because he smelled it as soon as the sparks started flying.
Riyyh: I am sure I will recover. [reassures Elte]
Edka frowns.
Edka: Medic!
Riyyh: Really, none of this is of any import except in that it disturbed others.
Riyyh: The boiler should have been tested under more controlled conditions.
Elte examines him, wondering if what Nick said about the man is all true.
Riyyh may not be particularly technically inclined, but he has been Sectuib long enough to know that water systems are pressure tested before they are put to use.
Riyyh notices Elte studying him and tries to look grateful and in control.
Racknie is, unfortunately for the peace of the camp, much more of a plant breeder than a plumber.
Elte: Hey, Edka, I think a channel is a medic.
Racknie's plants certainly don't require pressure testing before use.
Edka: You ever tried to examine your own feet?
Edka is perhaps underestimating Riyyh's flexibility, but then, they haven't been acquainted long.
Elte: Well, you got a point there.
Riyyh: Really, I will be just fine. I only require the chance to wash up and rest.
Riyyh: In the meantime, there is nothing to be done here. Perhaps we should adjourn to a more comfortable location?
Medic: Did someone call for a medic?
Riyyh would like to get these picture snapping nosy journalists and gun toting bozos (military is one of Riyyh's few hates) out of the scene of the destruction.
Medic pushes her way into the room.
Edka: Soon as we see that your feet are up to it. Check his feet for burns. [to medic]
Medic: Right.
Elte glances at Thergude and gives him a pat on the shoulder. The kid's doing great in all this confusion.
Medic eyes the Sime and shrugs.
Elte readies the camera again. Sectuib treated by a Gen army doctor would be human interest both sides of the border.
Riyyh: I'm sorry, I really must go.
Riyyh backs away apologetically, hobbling slightly.
Edka is used to dealing with soldiers who are trying to look macho.
Medic: Oh no you don't! Mister, have a seat.
Riyyh's delightfully embroidered slippers will never be the same.
Edka steps between Riyyh and the door.
Edka has enough imposing Gen bulk to fill a doorway quite well.
Riyyh stops, looking at Edka in astonishment.
Riyyh: Really, this is too much!
Medic: Come on we ain't got all day. The faster I look that faster you can get going.
Riyyh actually looks affronted.
Riyyh: Who do you think you are!
Elte's lust for a good photo op gets the better of his civic duty as communications consultant.
Medic tries to figure if he is talking to her or the Sarge.
Riyyh is talking to them both.
Edka motions for the medic to get on with it.
Edka: I'm a sergeant--and you're a casualty.
Edka thinks, and a civilian.
Medic: I can't check his feet while he's standing.
Riyyh realizes that he is not being as diplomatic as usual, but close encounters of the Racknie kind tend to do that to him.
Riyyh: I am a Sime Territory citizen, and you are on the wrong side of the border.
Elte: [to Thergude] Give me that tripod, quick!
Riyyh: I realize that you mean well, but I must insist that you allow me the freedom to walk away from you.
Thergude hands over the tripod quick.
Thergude: Yes, Tuib.
Elte sets it up in a jiffy and positions the camera for a LOOOOONG exposure.
Medic: [mutters under her breath] If I didn't know better I'd say he was scared of us.
Edka: At the moment, you're doing more limping than walking.
Edka: Now, you can let her check you over here, or we can carry you back to your tent.
Medic: Yeah, just let me take a quick look and you can go.
Elte snaps the shutter.
Riyyh would ordinarily acquiesce in almost all situations, but the night's events have pushed him over the edge.
Medic has had reluctant patients before but she can usually bully them into behaving.
Riyyh reaches out and blocks the camera's view with his hand.
Ali trudges into the bath house... or what there is of it. The noise seems have dropped to a weak whistle.
Riyyh: No pictures, please. [gritting teeth]
Riyyh zlins Ali.
Riyyh: Ali!
Ali is intent on finding his channel.
Riyyh's voice isn't... quite... a yelp for help, but it's close.
Ali catches the touch of hysteria in Riyyh's voice and breaks into a run.
Ali: Sectuib!
Elte of course has no interest in taking a picture of a subject glaring at the camera.
Medic is nearly run over by the newcomer.
Medic: Hey!!
Ali runs straight into the broad backs of the soldiers.
Ali: Get out of the way!
Edka turns around to see what hit him, and looks down at Ali.
Medic: Where do you think you're going!?
Edka: Who are you?
Ali: I'm his Companion! Get away from Sectuib Riyyh!
Edka reluctantly moves aside.
Ali takes control of the ambient as best he can in this room full of Gens.
Riyyh quivers with whatever is the closest to outrage that he is capable of summoning: a cross between nervous breakdown and disapproval.
Ali goes and gathers Riyyh into his arms.
Riyyh clutches Ali in relief.
Ali: Sectuib, it's all right.
Riyyh: They're being perfect beasts.
Ali: I'll protect you.
Edka hopes that another Gen will be more sensible.
Edka: Maybe you can convince him that walking through the mud on burned feet isn't the smartest thing to do?
Ali tries to keep his field calm while looking fierce at the same time... no mean feat for a 15-year-old.
Ali: Get away! I'm his Companion; I'll take care of him.
Medic looks at the Sargent and rolls her eyes heavenward.
Riyyh: Please. None of you are required here. There is nothing to see, and the emergency is resolved.
Edka sighs, and waves the medic away.
Riyyh has recovered some of his usual self now that Ali has arrived.
Riyyh: I apologize for the disturbance, and assure you it won't happen again.
Ali adjusts his nager to its most soothing.
Medic shrugs and leaves the heat and the noise. "Yes Sir!"
Ali knows how upset Riyyh must be just by looking at the mess his hair is in.
Edka sends the rest of his men out after her, with orders to disperse the crowd.
Riyyh sighs.
Elte disassembles the tripod and hands it back to Thergude with a thumbs-up gesture.
Riyyh wonders if Nick and Jeniard will be understanding if he wants to borrow their shower this early in the morning.
Thergude places the camera back into its case with tender care.
Ali: Sectuib, let's go find someplace quiet; let me rub your feet and brush out your hair.
Riyyh's shoulders wilt as he suddenly realizes how tired he is. He hasn't had that much physical exercise since the time Ali and Dr. Roosle almost set their travel shelter on fire in the middle of a blizzard.
Thergude then collapses the tripod and puts it away as well. He is happy that Tuib is pleased with his work.
Riyyh: Yes, that would be nice.
Riyyh smiles at Ali gratefully.
Edka looks at Ali fussing over Riyyh, and his nose doesn't quite wrinkle.
Edka is determined to be diplomatic, however, and says nothing.
Ali offers his strong young shoulder for Riyyh's support.
Elte watches Edka's sour lemon expression and grins.
Elte: These Simes, they got their own ways.
Riyyh leaves with Ali.
Elte was about to say that it wasn't their business, but he's determined to learn everything he can about Riyyh.
Edka decides that Riyyh isn't limping badly enough to intervene.
Riyyh: [to Ali] It's really quite disturbing to find Gen military here, and armed no less.
Riyyh: I intend to find out what is happening here. I am sure they can't know of this in Capitol.
Edka settles for telling HT to return at lunch, when the furnace will have cooled, to make sure the repairs are completed as promised.
Ali: Don't worry about them, Sectuib. Let's go find you a bath and some clean clothes.
Elte glances at what remains of the furnace.
Elte: Tempest in a teapot, eh?
Edka figures, with some justification, that the furnace would not have misbehaved in this fashion in the first place, if the people in charge of it knew what they were doing.
Edka: A teapot with quite a whistle, though.
Elte grins.
Elte: Yeah! Quite a reveille. Wake up all the slackers!
Edka: Let's just hope it didn't wake up Mr. Birch, or he'll be impossible all day.
Elte: He's always impossible.
Elte turns to Thergude.
Thergude looks up at his boss with bright green eyes.
Elte: Well, I guess the excitement's over. Let's go get some breakfast.
Edka, being Gen, nods agreement to this sensible suggestion.
Thergude: Yes, Tuib! [enthusiastic about his favorite pass time]
see note 1
Dramming dips his paintbrush in a pail of whitewash and starts applying a thick coat to the SWAT outhouse.
Dramming is, of course, aware that this duty is a sad comedown for a conspirator of his status, but consoles himself with the thought of all the valuable intelligence he will gather about SWAT.
Dramming's efforts in that direction to date, alas, have been limited to data on which of the members drank too much porstan the night before, and which ate something inadvisable.
Dramming dares not complain, however, as he is the only member of the Audnes Loyalists who has managed to get into SWAT, even with the new management.
Dramming salves his pride by whitewashing as slowly as he dares.
Thureal and Gashnom have been sent upon one of their more enjoyable missions; collecting squirming scum for their client to interrogate.
Dramming is glad that it isn't summer any longer, or conditions would be unbearable.
Thureal and Gashnom are paid to have no opinions about their client, but they both secretly enjoy watching Arat Farris scare the hair off someone.
Dramming's opinion is that the people who work for SWAT really ought to form a union to improve working conditions.
Dramming has no real desire to belong to such an organization, of course: he prefers not to work at all.
Thureal breathes in the crisp air and thinks that it is freakishly warm and snowless for this time of year.
Thureal even sees somebody whitewashing.
Thureal does a doubletake as he recognizes their bunny.
Thureal gestures to Gashnom using their super-secret security guard code and they stroll over in that direction.
Thureal and Gashnom always seem to catch Dramming in the most compromising poses. There was the time he was caught with his pants down, and then the unfortunate incident with the tent pole... and now here he is, painting the shithouse of the laboring classes. It's actually rather amusing, although not on a level that security guys can really appreciate.
Dramming dips another brush full and splashes the liquid haphazardly on the splintery planking.
Thureal clears his throat from approximately 3 feet behind Dramming's back.
Dramming yelps, managing to paint a large stripe down his chin and chest.
Dramming turns and glares at the two guards.
Dramming: What are you doing here?
Gashnom smiles at the effect. It makes Dramming look like a skinny Santa.
Thureal: Your presence is requested. [trying to ignore the "beard", but voice coming out a bit more contemptuous than intended]
Thureal: Now.
Dramming sighs, and drops the paintbrush into the bucket with a splash.
Dramming notes with some distaste that the stuff has splashed on his shoes.
Thureal double checks to make sure they are not being observed; they're not.
Thureal and Gashnom were made very aware that this was to be another secret meeting. And they do take their orders seriously.
Dramming: I don't suppose you'll let me change into something decent first?
Dramming's current best outfit is not anywhere close to his standards--or Arat's--but at least it doesn't have whitewash on it.
Thureal and Gashnom exchange glances. They had gotten a tonguelashing for taking so long last time.
Thureal and Gashnom: [in unison] "No."
Thureal: Sorry, [adds]
Dramming can zlin exactly how sorry they are, but he can also zlin how much bigger they are.
Dramming: Oh, very well.
Thureal and Gashnom scan about for observers, and then march off with Dramming in tow.
Arat is attempting to pace in a very small hollow between two cliffs. There isn't really enough room for it, though.
Arat is extremely stressed out, as he is any time he finds it necessary to associate with the Audnes supporters.
Arat wishes they had not approached Wise Snake; he could then have afforded to continue to ignore them indefinitely.
Dramming: Tuib Audnes.
Dramming draws himself up and gives a polished, upper-class bow: rather a ridiculous sight, given his whitewashed and bedraggled state.
Arat spins to face Dramming as he appears from behind one of the (admittedly well insulated stone) cliff walls.
Arat pauses a moment to take in the visual spectacle.
Arat is visibly appalled.
Dramming flushes with embarrassment.
Arat: What have you done to yourself? [sharply]
Arat's nostrils flare as he detects the odor of latrine.
Dramming grimaces.
Arat: You are an embarrassment to your race.
Arat would not be saying this if he realized that Dramming was rather a good specimen compared to some of the others.
Arat has been fortunate so far in having very limited exposure to them.
Dramming is stung by this last barb, not least because it is well grounded in truth.
Dramming: At least I'm trying to restore my heritage, not to ignore it!
Dramming breaks off as he remember to whom he's speaking.
Arat, already disgusted by Dramming's appearance, appears on the verge of simply giving up on the man.
Arat knows that there is only so far even Snake will go to get back at him, and associating with these might be more trouble than it is worth for either of them.
Dramming: Your men refused to give me time to clean up.
Arat: Excuses. Is that all you can muster?
Arat: Tell me of your work to infiltrate SWAT.
Dramming assumes that Arat is not asking for information on the state of the latrines; he has other inspectors to provide that sort of information.
Arat finds it easier than he likes to slip into the role of his father. Those Tecton employees who dislike Arat's manner would like his father even less. His father was less restrained in showing his contempt.
Dramming involuntarily straightens at the tone.
Dramming: I was able to gain acceptance into their ranks a week ago. They have a closed inner circle of decision-makers, whom I have partially identified, but I have been unable to penetrate it as yet.
Dramming: At the moment, I am trying to do nothing to draw attention to myself in any way.
Dramming might do better at this task if he weren't painted with such dramatic flair, of course.
Arat frowns at the 4" wide, splattery white stripe running from just under Dramming's nose to just above his navel.
Arat: And the others?
Dramming frowns.
Arat assumes that several of the Audnes-supporters are now members of SWAT.
Dramming: We decided not to apply in a group, but as individuals over a period of time.
Dramming: Three of our group were rejected as unsuitable before I was allowed to join.
Arat frowns more. He knows SWAT has been accepting droves of new members.
Dramming: Our success rate should improve, once I am able to vouch for new candidates.
Arat: Would that not defeat the purpose of applying separately?
Arat is puzzled. Are these people completely incompetent?
Dramming: Not if it is done very discreetly.
Dramming means by this, influencing a different member of the screening committee each time.
Arat having not witnessed his parents' associates pre-Unity is not aware that some of them were rich, mostly ineffectual posers who fluttered about like courtiers around royalty, and that it was that segment which survived the Unity Wars alive if impoverished and ultimately became the Audnes "supporters" of today.
Arat: I see.
Arat sees that this is going to take far longer than he'd feared.
Arat resigns himself to that fact, thinking that at least it will satisfy his secondary purpose for ordering them to do it: keeping them out of trouble.
Arat thinks that if even one of them has a job, they will be less likely to starve.
Arat unfortunately can't do anything so open as offering them financial aid or housing help.
Arat wonders if he should recruit other help for his main purpose in SWAT infiltration - to eventually have people in good positions there.
Dramming: I'm hoping to talk them into letting me do clerical work soon--they don't have all that many people who are really literate.
Arat nods cautiously.
Dramming also thinks that it would be better suited to his dignity than whitewashing the toilets.
Dramming: Right now, though, I'm being tested.
Arat can only hope that Dramming's penmanship is more accurate than his painting.
Dramming at least prefers to think that his current assignment has some higher purpose than the obvious.
Dramming would hate for the sole result of his undignified efforts to be a white toilet.
Arat: And your camp?
Arat would really rather not inspect that himself, and hopes the answer will be what he wants to hear.
Arat: You have improved it?
Dramming: Somewhat. Our resources are limited, but we have managed to get some better tents from people who were leaving.
Arat: And you have secured a food source and prepared proper sanitary facilities?
Arat will not have people using his family's name as a banner while living worse than animals.
Dramming: We moved our sanitary ditch farther away from the camp.
Dramming: With the salary SWAT is paying me, we will be able to afford at least a small amount of food.
Arat: And your taxes?
Dramming: That is more difficult.
Dramming: Our savings can't carry us much longer, unless more of us can find work.
Arat has not yet learned of Riyyh's plan to have Nick talk him into putting up the starting capital for the Gen internment camp, or the Audnes-supporters' taxes would be the last thing on his mind.
Dramming really wishes he and his cronies could work in the field for which they are most suited: as admiring courtiers who would never let their leader look bad by comparison.
Arat: If necessary, send some of your people away. The ones least likely to gain work. Winter will make that impossible soon.
Arat rather wishes they would all leave, but can tell that isn't going to happen.
Dramming: Yes, Tuib. If it is necessary.
Arat: There is also the very real likelihood of another selyn shortage this winter.
Arat: Be aware of it.
Dramming pales.
Dramming: I thought that problem had been solved?
Arat: Travel in winter is uncertain, and our selyn comes from afar.
Dramming: Then why the rumors that the unemployed Gens are to be run off?
Arat's tentacles flick impatiently.
Arat: Rumors only.
Dramming: ~~ relief ~~
Arat: Now go. I have spent too much time here already.
Dramming: Yes, Tuib Audnes.
Arat would like to put his temporary substitute veil back on ASAP as soon as Dramming can't see him anymore.
Dramming hurries off to finish his whitewashing, hoping that nobody in SWAT has noticed that he was missing for a while.
Notes:
1) The next scene happens during the day following the incident of the boiler. [return]
Go on to Episode #63: The Echo
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