Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #91: The New Washington What? (12/24/00)
Elte sits by the side of the young courier's infirmary bed in the SRD Construction site hospital wing.
Elte thinks that, for a man whose ribs have been crushed, young Storm is looking pretty good.
Elte is, however, glad that he is not the one in the body cast that the channels strapped on to hold the bones together.
Nikki is looking for her big brother Nick. She comes and goes as she pleases. Daddy never seems to say no, which is a big change from the commune where everybody said no to everything. But that hadn't stopped her there either.
Elte: Hey, Storm! How're you doing?
Elte: Got knocked around pretty bad, huh?
Elte has brought a box of sassafras candy to sweeten his bedside visit.
Storm: How do you think I feel? Yards and yards of bandages, then plastered to hold the damn broken ribs together...!
Elte: I hear from the channels you'll be healed up in a week. Injury like that would take a month in a New Washington hospital.
Nikki is careful not to be seen by too many adults. They tend to shoo her out and she just has to be more careful and come back in again.
Elte: What do you think of in-Territory medical treatment?
Elte wonders if Storm was conscious for the part with the lateral contact.
Storm: Well... they're pretty good, I'll say that. And that Riyyh, he's good.
Elte: You were so nervous about donating. The field manipulation didn't bother you?
Storm shifts, trying to find a new position that doesn't itch as much.
Elte has to use a few Simelan words here, as English doesn't have the terms.
Storm shoots Elte a surprised look. He didn't expect that.
Storm: Ah, you mean Wise Snake? Wasn't too bad. You know, Faith Day is only once a year. I wasn't sure if they did it differently the rest of the year.
Nikki hasn't seen Nick in quite some time. She has missed him and has forgiven him for frightening her about not living with daddy. He is just an adult. He didn't understand.
Elte: Hey, I can see you're a guy who rolls with the punches. And the kicks?
Storm: And what field manipulation? You mean with Mr. Riyyh? I was semiconscious most of the time and out cold the rest of the time..
Storm isn't entirely certain what Elte is trying to do. Keep him off balance by asking him unrelated questions?
Storm finally gives up ignoring the itch and goes at it, scratching frantically.
Elte: Well, the main thing is that the bones are knitting right up and the therapy didn't bother you.
Elte watches Storm wriggle around.
Storm: Basically, yes. Tell me, Mr. Andover... what is going on outside? The channels won't let me out there.
Nikki doesn't see her brother but she does see Danny. She met him the other day and helped him get a drink of water when no one else was around to help him.
Elte: Well, actually I was going to ask you what happened to you.
Storm: When?
Elte: There are a lot of stories going around; I'd like to hear it from the... uh... horse's mouth, as it were.
Elte: And I come bearing gifts.
Elte hands the package of candy to Storm.
Storm: You mean the mule's mouth. I got kicked by Moose because I was stupid enough to try pullin' him out the IDAS building... that's all I remember.
Elte: The whole front of the building is half collapsed. How'd that happen?
Storm's face lights up at the sight of the candy, and then he sees Nikki at the door.
Nikki sees a strange man talking to Storm. She had been willing to go on but Storm said something about candy.
Elte had heard that it was caused by an attack by Gen cavalry come to free the imprisoned Church of the Purity minister.
Storm: Half collapsed? Hmm. Must have happened when that skinny Sime tried to push Moose out. Nikki, come here. Want some sassafras candy?
Elte: What skinny Sime was that?
Storm: See, I don't remember much between Moose kicking me, and waking up here.
Elte thinks most Simes are rather spare in build.
Storm: The skinny Sime that got bit by Moose.
Storm really, really doesn't want the news that he almost was a victim of a killmode attack to get out. His mother would have a heart attack..
Elte wonders if that is Hurl, the SWAT secretary. He certainly lost a chunk out of his rear. But he wasn't the only one.
Nikki makes her way to Danny's bed. She doesn't know if the strange man might try to make her go away but... candy.
Elte looks up to see a small ragged little girl inch in their direction, her eyes on the candy.
Storm: Here, Nikki, some candy. This man is Elte Andover, a reporter from... hmm... you never did say what newspaper you were from.
Elte: The New Washington Times.
Nikki: Hi Danny! How are you today? [has been practicing her manners more and more but that doesn't stop her from trespassing]
Storm: Fine, but God does my ribs itch. Would you be a love and scratch right here for me? I can't reach it. And do you want me to braid your hair?
Storm leans forward, allowing Nikki room to find the itch.
Elte frowns; he thought his name was famous from one end of the Territory to the other.
Elte thinks there is some excuse for Simes not knowing who he is, but not another Gen.
Nikki: [giggles] No, I like it loose. [reaches over and scratches Danny's ribs]
Storm: Oh, really? Mama hates that newspaper--won't read it.
Elte: Hello, Nikki.
Elte: Oh, yeah? Why not?
Nikki: Hello Elte.
Storm: She said something about it supporting the Church of the Purity. Me, I don't give a [looks at Nikki] cat for it.
Nikki smiles at Danny.
Storm: I'm Gen Army. If you think they let us privates read newspapers, you're crazy. Oh, thanks, Nikki.
Nikki: You are welcome, Danny!
Elte blinks. His newspaper has been on the CoP's blasphemers list for years.
Storm: Is it? Mama always goes off on one of her spates occasionally.
Elte: You must have us confused with another New Washington Times.
Storm The truth is, Storm doesn't know why his mother hates NWT.
Elte thinks well, the guy's illiterate or or his mother is, if they never heard of the newspaper of record in their own Territory.
Storm: Really, Nikki, you'd see better if I braided your hair. I know how to do a really nice one.
Storm: And if you don't like it, you can take it out.
Nikki: But you hurt your side when you did it the other day.
Nikki actually enjoyed being fussed over.
Elte never heard of basic literacy being forbidden to army privates, but he supposes it might help keep order if the men on the bottom have no idea what is going on.
Storm: Yeah, I did... but I like doing it. I once had a sister -- loved putting in french braids.
Elte puts it on his list of things to look into.
Storm does know how to read and write... he just doesn't read newspapers all that often. And what he said is true. The Army keeps them too busy to read newspapers.
Elte stares at Storm, who is murmuring to Nikki in Simelan.
Elte thinks this is one pretty weird army private.
Storm: You all right, Mr. Andover?
Nikki can't get enough attention. She loves being the center of it. When she isn't trying not to get caught sneaking around that is.
Elte thinks Nikki is a cute little thing. He recognizes the Narosian features.
Storm stares at the reporter. Weird man, he thinks.
Elte: My pride is hurt. But that won't take a week in bed to heal up!
Elte's ego is in fact pretty bullet-proof.
Storm: Oh, I'm sorry. Want some candy?
Nikki: Yes please!
Storm's mother did teach him manners. They just took a while to sink in.
Storm hands Nikki and Elte some candy, and watches with pleasure as Nikki dives into her candy.
Nikki is now distracted by her sweet. She will, however be bouncing off the walls from the sugar high shortly.
Storm: Mr. Andover, would you please tell me what's going on outside? Like I said before, they won't let me out.
Storm: Nikki, do you want me to braid your hair?
Storm switches between English and Simelan with ease.
Nikki looks up at Danny and nods her mouth is currently occupied.
Elte: Well, what do you want to know? The snow keeps falling. Passes are closed, probably for good.
Storm: Damn. [slaps a hand on his mouth, but Nikki doesn't seem to notice] Any rumors?
Elte: What was your message for the IDAS guy, Borgmann?
Nikki backs up to Danny so that he can braid her hair.
Storm gestures to Nikki to get a brush and a cloth band.
Storm carefully starts to brush Nikki's hair. The hair is all tangled.
Storm: What message for Borgmann? I went there to get a temporary visa, since the powers that be forgot to give me the papers I needed.
Nikki's hair had been very neatly arranged when she left daddy's tent but well... she did get snagged getting under the fence.
Elte: Well, there are all sorts of stories going around about why Sergeant Edka's Demolitions Squad is still here, and what you're doing here.
Storm gets the cloth band ready, as the hair is now smoothing out.
Elte: Some of the Simes think we're planning an invasion over the border come spring.
Elte: Any truth to that?
Storm's eyes goggle out.
Storm also has dropped the brush. Shaking his head, he picks it up again.
Elte wouldn't have even asked this question if he thought there was a ghost of a chance it were true.
Storm: Invasion? Mr. Andover, you've seen me. And you've also seen Sgt. Edka. Do you really think we could mount an invasion?
Elte is willing to share information, once he gets what he is looking for.
Nikki had managed not to get anything on her clothes though.
Storm Shaking his head, he separates Nikki's hair into three pieces.
Elte: Well, I don't. But then I'm not a channel who tried to hold off a Gen Army battalion with a fertilizer cart.
Storm: [curious] Who tried that?
Elte: Your so kind Sectuib Riyyh.
Elte: He's quite a guy.
Elte: We were swapping war stories one night....
Storm: I should say I'm surprised, but hey, I'm not. Spend a few days in here, Mr. Andover, and you'll see what I mean.
Elte: What do you mean?
Storm begins to braid the hair into a French braid.
Storm: I mean, these channels do a lot with so little. You know where this plaster came from?
Storm: I don't know myself, and I'm afraid to ask.
Elte: Oh, heavens, they're building a Dam here.
Elte: They've got the fixings for enough concrete to stop up the Snake River.
Elte: Thousands of men on the construction crew; more thousands hoping to be hired on.
Elte: This is a phenomenon going on here!
Elte can't help slipping into his favorite rhetorical style every now and then.
Storm: Really? [continues to braid Nikki's hair] I just go where they tell me to.
Elte: So they sent you out blind? Didn't tell you anything about the messages you were carrying?
Storm reaches the end of Nikki's braid, picks up the band and ties it tightly.
Elte decides that Storm is not only barely literate but abysmally incurious. Wherever did he learn Simelan?
Storm: Why should they? I'm only the messenger. Besides, it's safer that way.
Storm: Nikki, look in the mirror and tell me if you like it.
Elte would have steamed all the letters open and memorized the contents his first day on the trail.
Elte thinks, well, and that's why he's a journalist and not a soldier.
Elte: Why is it safer?
Storm: If someone, like yourself for example, wanted to know what the messages said but were unauthorized to see them, you'd have to steal them. [shrugs] And then I get rid of them before you can see them. Understand? Either way you get nothing.
Nikki looks in the mirror. What she sees is her mother. This is why she prefers not to pull her hair away from her face. However she now knows where her grey eyes and brown hair come from and is content to let her hair stay braided to make Danny happy.
Storm: Nikki?
Storm: Do you like it?
Nikki: It is a very nice braid. I liked the other one you did too.
Elte grins. He is about as unstoppable as Moose once he gets going.
Storm: The half braid? Good!
Elte watches the child, softening a little, remembering braiding up the hair of his own four sisters. It was always so much fun.
Nikki: Thank you Danny. [she very carefully hugs Danny.]
Elte: Hey, soldier, where'd you grow up?
Storm hugs her back, smiling.
Nikki is glad to see that he is getting better and her Narosian genes are starting to make themselves apparent in her learning tact.
Storm: Near the Norwest border. As the crow flies.
Elte: Bet you have at least one sister. Or more.
Storm stiffens.
Storm: One. And I also have a brother.
Elte continues his typical erratic interview style. Never let 'em see which side you're coming in on....
Elte: Where'd you learn such good Simelan?
Storm: My mother.
Storm is realizing that its not such a good idea to talk to this reporter. He doesn't think Elte remembers the night he took Storm to the donation shack.
Elte: Yeah, you said your family were refugees from the War.
Elte of course remembers it all perfectly.
Storm: My mother, actually. Not all of them.
Elte: So how'd you end up military?
Storm: Runs in the family. Pa was a soldier, Step joined the Border Patrol, and me? Joined the Gen Army. Probably will make a career of it.
Storm thinks, if I don't die here. He remembers the stories his mother told him.
Storm: Nikki? What's been going on?
Elte can well understand why Storm might want to keep his private life private. Gen Army sentiment towards anything that came over the border is not exactly warm and friendly.
Storm stares at Elte, wondering why Elte is asking him all this.
Elte: So you got your temporary visa. Been a lot of Gens coming in-Territory around here lately.
Elte: A bunch of them plan to stay permanently. What do you think about that?
Nikki: Nothing, just looking for my big brother Nicky. Have you seen him today? I looked for him at Haji Arat's office but he wasn't there.
Storm: Yes, but I haven't seen much of this camp. Just Sgt. Edka's place, the IDAS building, and of course, this place....
Storm: Hmm. Is he the big one with brown hair and grey eyes, like yours and mine?
Nikki still has a problem with the word Hajene. It should clear up when her front teeth grow in.
Storm finally hears what Elte said about Gens crossing the borders.
Storm: With winter setting in? Pretty damn stupid. If they're gonna cross borders, do it in the spring. More warmer then.
Elte: Well, the Simes are rounding them up. That Borgmann you went to see, he's in charge of that.
Nikki frowns. They keep saying things she can't understand. Well, she does have to find Nicky.
Elte: And your mule trashed their command post.
Elte: What is that animal you rode in on? New secret weapon?
Nikki: Danny, I gotta go find Nicky. See you later Danny. Goodbye Elte.
Storm: No, [laughing] just Moose. Since I'm the lowest on the totem pole back home, they gave me Moose. Not too bad, really; just don't stand within biting distance.
Storm: Good bye, Nikki. Be careful!
Elte: Bye, Nikki! Nice meeting you!
Storm: And no, he's no secret weapon. If he was, he wouldn't be a gelding.
Elte is trying to remember where he has seen Nikki before. She looks so familiar.
Nikki looks around to see if anyone who might try to stop her is around She grins and waves at the two men and disappears.
Storm: Sweet little girl. I hear her mother is from Hell.
Storm: I hope Riyyh keeps her when that woman goes back to the commune.
Elte: What woman?
Storm: I've never met her, but the things I hear about her from Methylda... her name is Meana.
Elte: Meana? You mean the one who's suing Sectuib Riyyh?
Storm: Yes, that's what I heard.
Storm: Uh. Mr. Andover? I've got a question. What's the status of Norwest refugees, or children of said refugees, here in-Territory?
Elte blinks.
Elte: Well, I'm no lawyer.
Elte: But as far as I can see, any Gen who is willing to donate can apply for citizenship.
Storm thinks maybe he shouldn't have asked Elte that question. But he does need to know, in case his mother decides to come down here.
Elte: And there are a bunch who are doing just that.
Elte: Got the Church of the Purity up in arms.
Storm: Mr. Andover, my mother never applied for Out Territory citizenship. What is her status, in case she decides to come here?
Elte: Your mother is Gen?
Elte figures no Sime could get by that long out-T, even on the border, but best to be sure.
Storm: Yes. Yes, she is. Or else she wouldn't have run.
Elte has heard lots of stories like this one as he has been investigating the Gen border-crossers at the Dam site.
Elte: Well, then of course she couldn't get a legal visa to cross the border from Gen Territory.
Storm looks at Elte like he's crazy.
Elte: If she came, her case would be evaluated by IDAS.
Storm: Oh shit. Oh shit... she ran from Norwest just before it collapsed. I don't know about her family. She never talked about them. They must be dead. Wouldn't they be?
Elte: From what I can see, Gen immigrants who are willing to donate are likely to be accepted here.
Elte: Whether they have family here or not.
Storm: Could IDAS stop her from going back home?
Storm: I mean, home to Gen Territory.
Elte: If she were rejected, IDAS might deport her. And I'm not sure Gen Territory would accept her back.
Elte: That would be a nasty situation.
Storm: Oh... give me a pen and paper! I have to write and tell her under no circumstances is she to come here! Give me!
Elte scratches his head.
Elte: Well, if she's not a citizen and has been in hiding all this time, that's a risk she's run all her life.
Storm knows his mother is the kind to charge to her children, if she thinks they're in danger.
Elte pats inside his military-style jacket and extracts a notebook.
Storm: You don't understand! If she's not a citizen, then what am I and Step?!
Elte tears off some sheets and hands them to Storm.
Elte: Well, if you are in the Army and he is in the Border Patrol, I guess you are both citizens.
Elte: Didn't they process your enlistment?
Storm grabs the paper and starts writing. Finished, he looks up at Elte.
Elte has always been under the impression that illegals were screened at the recruiting office.
Storm: Please make sure this gets on the next ferry.
Elte 's own family certainly had no problem buying some doctored papers and getting themselves made legal.
Storm: What? They didn't ask me if Ma had ever applied for citizenship. I think they assumed she had.
Elte: Kid, I think you're panicking over nothing. These kinds of things can be fixed.
Storm: And besides, she was married to a Gen soldier. To the Army, that made her a citizen. But with all the laws changing since the first Faith Day.
Storm shrugs. He and Step had tried to get Ma to make herself legal, but she was afraid the Gen immigration department might find something. So they just kept their mouths shut.
Storm: Just make sure that gets on the next ferry. I think Step and I are fine, but Ma... you don't know Ma.
Elte: Well, if she married a soldier, taking care of it would be a snap. My cousin did the same thing.
Storm: Really? What'd she do?
Elte: Got some records filed in the County Courthouse swearing to 5 generations of Gen ancestry.
Storm: Five generations? Forged papers?
Elte: My other cousins agreed that was the truth, and of course there were no records left in NorWest.
Elte winks at Storm.
Elte: Good thing Gens can't zlin, huh.
Elte: But, really, it's a piece of cake.
Storm's mouth is hanging open.
Elte: People do it all the time.
Storm: That's nice, except for one thing. Ma has no Gen relatives left alive.
Storm: And for all I know, Ma's relatives could still be alive, and prove the lie.
Elte: Well, find some. I probably have a few you could borrow. My folks came from up that way too.
Storm: Sattle?
Storm: No, I'll just hope the letter gets to Ma in time to stop her from coming here. If she does. She could decide to send Step instead, but that's a long shot.
Elte: Well, our family came from closer to the Territory border. Little place called Treocks, or something like that.
Storm's mother always said bad things came in threes. He'd gotten posted here, kicked by Moose, and now... he's waiting for the third thing to happen.
Storm: Well... Ma's people came from Sattle. Big city. You at all familiar with the Leapins? That's her family.
Elte: Hmmm. Well, I guess anyone who ever rode a horse heard of Leapins. Guess I know how you manage to ride that stick of dynamite.
Storm: I haven't, not really. Ma never talked about them. Only reason I know her name is that it's in the family book. Are they still alive?
Elte: There, I have no idea. My family was into horse breeding too; that's how I heard the name. They were business rivals.
Elte: But everything fell apart when the Territory was destroyed.
Storm: Yeah. Ma came close to being put up for a Choice Auction.
Elte: I could ask my grand-dad; he might know more.
Elte: But I probably won't get the chance to visit home till spring. We're stuck up here for now.
Storm: Thanks, please do. True. The passes are impassable. When I went through, it was about 10 inches high, and it was still snowing.
Elte: So there's no chance of your Ma coming out here any time soon.
Elte: By spring, we'll have a better read on this immigration thing.
Storm: There's the ferries. Until the lake freezes over. Look, Ma's not your tender flower type. If she thinks her babies are in danger, she'll ride to the rescue.
Storm: By spring? Andover, just how much did your family tell you about Norwest?
Elte: Not much. They keep pretty closed-mouthed.
Storm has been wondering for days how the camp is going to feed and clothe the border-crossers.
Elte: But my folks had dealings over the border even before the end came. They were lucky.
Storm: Well, Ma says Norwest collapsed because the Pen system failed. No food, no clothes, no Gens. No Gens, Simes go raiding, and things went from bad to worse.
Elte: That's what I heard too.
Devore has decided to visit the poor kid who got kicked by the mule. He would like to know if the guy is all right.
Elte is certain there is more to the story than that, some kind of secret thing, but he has never managed to get it out of the few who might be able to enlighten him.
Storm: [shudders] Ma made it across the border because of the shrines. But even then, it was chancy. Met up with a patrol. Pa was one of them.
Storm hears creaking and realizes there's someone else coming in.
Elte: Yeah, I've heard a lot of stories like yours. It was a terrible time.
Storm: Nikki?
Devore gets directed to the correct section of the infirmary wing. As he enters he notices that Storm has a visitor already. Maybe he should wait; after all he doesn't want to overwhelm him.
Storm: Come in, Mr. Devore!
Elte has always wondered if his Sime relatives were Householders. The older generation doesn't seem to bear the scars of typical refugees. But if they were Householders, why hide it?
Devore shrugs. Oh well the more the merrier.
Storm is genuinely glad to see Devore. Elte is making him more and more worried about his mother.
Devore: How you doin' there son?
Devore looks around and recognizes the other visitor.
Devore: Andover isn't it?
Elte looks up to see the Gen labor leader enter. He is afraid this guy will make Storm clam up. On the other hand, he's fresh meat.
Storm: Oh, I'm getting better. All those yards of bandages holding my ribs together.... I'm feeling much better than I did when I got kicked. Thanks for taking Moose into hand, Mr. Devore.
Elte: Yes, Elte Andover, New Washington Times. Pleased to meet you!
Devore: Not a problem. Used to have one just like him.
Storm: Really? Where'd you get him from?
Devore shakes Elte's hand.
Devore: The Gen Army. I rode that blasted animal for nearly two years.
Devore: I was Courier Service too.
Devore: We got to an understanding after a while.
Storm isn't a fool. He knows Elte sees Devore as fresh meat, and frankly, he is feeling a bit tenderized. But five generations of Gen relatives? How'd the Andover family come up with enough Gens to pull that off?
Storm: Oh yeah.... I got Moose last year. He stopped trying to bite me after I painted my clothes with vinegar. Stopped him right quick.
Elte: Mr. Devore, I understand you were a witness to the incident where Storm here was injured.
Devore: Yes I was.
Devore is a rather large well developed Gen with a very calm exterior and an even calmer interior.
Elte: Storm here is a little confused about exactly what happened. Perhaps you could describe what transpired?
Storm: Mr. Andover, I told you -- I was nearly out cold most of the time and out cold the rest of the time.
Devore: Not much to tell really. I was waiting to see Borgmann when Moose got tired of waiting outside.
Storm falls silent then, trying to figure out how Elte came up with five generations of Gens. Dead ones in the cemetery, maybe? Or were they Householders?
Devore: The rest is just a bunch of folks who know nothing about Army mules trying to deal with one.
Elte: Is it true the mule knocked down the walls of the IDAS building?
Devore: Not all of it.
Elte: Do you think the incident might have been deliberate and not an accident?
Devore: Mr. Andover, you ever dealt with an Army mule?
Elte grins.
Elte: As little as possible.
Elte, however, did a stint in the Patrol in his teens.
Devore: Well there is one thing you learn quick. You can't tie 'um tight enough.
Storm nods hard.
Elte: How did Storm here get injured? He was a bit dazed.
Storm: Got kicked!
Devore: If an Army mule takes it into his head to go some place it doesn't matter how well he was tied.
Elte: And that Sime, Hurl? What happened to him?
Storm is not going to answer that.
Devore: To be honest I didn't see. I was sitting waiting for the Army to get the animal under control again.
Elte: Now, from what I understand the Narosians hurried Storm off to be treated for his injuries.
Devore: Sounds about right.
Devore: I was retying Moose about that time.
Elte: But some of the Simes are saying the whole thing was a deliberate attempt to provoke an inter-territorial incident.
Devore: I wouldn't know about that.
Storm shakes his head as well.
Devore: I just want to be sure that I don't have scabs to deal with come spring.
Elte: Storm, do you know any reason someone would want to use you as bait?
Storm: Me? Whyfor?
Storm: No one knew I was coming, not even Sgt. Edka.
Elte: Sending you high field into Sime Territory on a vicious animal like that?
Storm: Moose just chewed through the rope and went off looking for me, that's all.
Storm's not telling Elte about the cuckolded General, no way.
Elte: Gen pain drives Simes crazy.
Elte: If he bit you anywhere else on the road, you might not be alive to tell the tale.
Storm: I know that now. I didn't then.
Storm: And Moose kicked me. Not bit me.
Storm: That poor bastard. Mr. Devore, you know if he's recovered from the bite Moose gave him?
Elte: That Hurl who came after you was the renSime labor union's secretary.
Storm thinks Elte is wandering very, very close to the truth.
Devore: I think the whole thing was just life happening, Mr. Andover.
Elte: If he'd killed you, we'd have a riot on our hands right now.
Elte: I'm not sure any of us Gens would make it out alive.
Storm: That was him? Oh. I don't remember him after the kicking.
Devore: Just a bunch of folks in the wrong place at the wrong time with an mule thrown in for good measure.
Storm: Look, Mr. Andover, no need to exaggerate. I was low field, wasn't I? No reason why Hurl would come after me.
Elte: Yeah, you were low field, and Riyyh stopped Hurl.
Storm does not want Elte writing about this. For one, his mother would have hysterics. For another, his brother probably would show up and make the whole thing even worse. Try a topic change?
Storm: Mr. Devore, do you know anything about the Leapins of Norwest Territory?
Elte wonders that Storm is making so free with his family secrets.
Elte is used to having people spill their guts to him, but of course he's a professional.
Storm is asking in case he needs them to help his mother out.
Storm reasons that Devore has no idea about the family connection.
Devore: Nope. I'm from the New Chicago area.
Storm: Oh. Someone told me they used to sell the best horses anywhere. My brother Step needs a new one.
Storm thinks this should distract Elte from Hurl and Storm's near fatal meeting, Storm thinks.
Devore: Oh.
Elte: Mister Devore, what were you saying about scabs?
Storm's tempted to start singing out, "Oh, nurse! Oh, channel!"
Devore: Not a real worry yet. I've been hearing all kinds of strange rumors about the border crossers. Just wanted to clear some of them up.
Elte: Well, what rumors have you been hearing?
Storm: That they're a invasion force? That rumor?
Devore: No. That the Tecton is keeping them around to use as leverage to renegotiate their contract with us.
Elte: Ah. And how would that work?
Storm: Just how many rumors are there?!?
Devore: I don't believe it though.
Elte: How many thousands of people are there camping out here?
Elte: Why don't you believe it?
Devore takes a long breath as he thinks. He decides to answer Elte's last question first.
Storm wishes Nikki'd come back. Preferably with her brother, if he's a Donor, to get these two out of his room. He's getting tired, and ready to pass out, but he's too interested in what Devore has to say.
Devore: I don't believe it because there isn't a construction trained person among them.
Devore: So it would be stupid to try and muscle us with them.
Elte nods.
Devore: But I wanted to know what the Tecton intended and I figured Borgmann would know since he handles the papers for them.
Elte: What did he tell you?
Devore: Nothing. Moose interrupted at that point.
Elte: Too bad.
Devore: I figure it'll keep.
Devore: I can ask him again after the put their office back together.
Devore: Son, you don't look so good.
Elte can see that Storm is looking tired.
Storm thinks that will be a long while. He'd heard Borgmann complaining before his transfer just how damaged his office is.
Elte: Yeah, guess we better let you get your rest.
Devore: Don't want to wear out my welcome or you. Guess I'd better be going.
Storm: Well, I am tired.
Elte: I'll drop by later, if you want me to post that letter to your Mom for you.
Storm: Thank you both for coming. And Mr. Devore, thank you for Moose. Mr. Andover, the address is on the letter. All you need to do is mail it. Thanks.
Devore: I'll come back some other time. Get some rest and get better. [hadn't intended it to sound like an order but....]
Storm: I'm going, I'm going. smiling:
Devore: After you Mr. Andover.
Storm slides under his bedcovers and is asleep instantly.
Go on to Episode #92: Boxers and Fisticuffs
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