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b(blood)e(con\256rmed)i(the)g(injury)m (.)24 b(She)14 b(was)g(no)f(more)996 1701 y(protected)j(than)g(the)g(other)f (mage)j(had)e(been.)33 b(Death)996 1751 y(should)10 b(have)i(been)g(impossibl\ e)e(on)h(Game.)20 b(The)12 b(rules)996 1801 y(had)c(changed,)h(and)f(a)g(man) h(had)e(died)h(because)h(he)f(didn')o(t)996 1851 y(know)m(.)14 b(Lirian)6 b (suddenly)g(felt)g(very)g(afraid;)f(only)h(chance)996 1900 y(had)i(taken)f (him)g(instead)g(of)g(her)n(.)14 b(Slowly)m(,)7 b(carefully)m(,)h(she)996 1950 y(attempted)g(to)g(cast)h(the)f(spell)g(that)g(would)f(pull)g(her)i(from)996 2000 y(Game)k(to)e(another)h(world,)f(but)g(it)g(failed)g(pitifully)m(,)f(and) 996 2050 y(she)h(knew)g(that)f(she)h(didn')o(t)e(have)i(the)f(strength)f(to)h (keep)996 2100 y(trying)f(the)h(dif)o(\256cult)f(incantation.)1038 2153 y(Lea\ ving)18 b(the)h(body)m(,)h(she)f(climbed)g(to)f(the)g(top)g(of)996 2202 y(the) e(tower)f(and)g(looked)g(out.)30 b(She)16 b(saw)g(no)f(one,)i(but)996 2252 y (she)12 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b(magic)996 1349 y(isn')o(t)f(good)f(enough)g(right)g(now)h(to)g(remove) g(a)h(toad)f(from)996 1399 y(Game,)k(much)f(less)f(myself.\272)1038 1450 y (Rosomar)j(looked)f(her)h(over)g(carefully)m(.)24 b(\252So)14 b(it)e(has)996 1499 y(happened)i(to)f(you)g(at)h(last.)25 b(Don')o(t)13 b(despair)n(.)25 b (It)13 b(might)996 1549 y(come)f(back.\272)1038 1600 y(They)f(were)h(not)f (exactly)g(the)g(words)f(she)i(wanted)f(to)996 1650 y(hear)n(,)k(but)e(Rosoma\ r)g(managed)h(to)e(make)i(them)f(sound)996 1700 y(comforting.)j(He)11 b(lifte\ d)e(his)i(arms)g(to)f(the)h(sky)m(,)g(brought)996 1750 y(them)16 b(down,)g (and)f(began)h(a)f(soft)g(chant.)30 b(The)16 b(words)996 1800 y(were)c(melodi\ ous,)g(and)f(full)f(of)h(power)n(.)19 b(Even)11 b(Lirian')n(s)996 1849 y(dimi\ nished)c(powersense)h(could)f(feel)h(the)g(ener)o(gy)g(\257ow-)996 1899 y(ing) g(from)g(his)f(spell.)15 b(The)8 b(soft)g(enfolding)f(darkness)h(fell)996 1949 y(about)i(them\261)g(and)g(shattered.)1038 2000 y(The)15 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y(rected)18 b(an)g(insult)d(at)j(it,)g (something)e(to)h(the)g(point)f(of)996 2097 y(\252Drop)g(dead\272.)33 b(It)16 b(tried)f(to)g(interpret)g(it)g(as)i(an)f(order)996 2147 y(and)c(nearly)f(got) f(them)i(both)e(killed.)17 b(He)12 b(walked)f(up)g(to)996 2197 y(the)d(contro\ l)e(room)i(and)f(stared)h(outside)f(the)h(bridge)e(win-)996 2246 y(dow)m(.)14 b(\252There')n(s)7 b(nothing)g(out)g(here\272,)g(Harris)g(McQuaide)996 2296 y (mused)k(quietly)m(.)1038 2349 y(\252That)16 b(nothing)e(is)i(of)o(f)f(our)g (mass)i(scale\272,)i(Nimrod)996 2399 y(replied)10 b(casually)m(.)1038 2452 y (Harris)15 b(McQuaide)h(opened)g(his)f(mouth)g(but)g(noth-)996 2501 y(ing)h (came)j(out.)35 b(He)17 b(closed)g(it)g(again)g(as)g(he)g(looked)996 2551 y (at)11 b(the)f(view)g(screen.)17 b(He)11 b(touched)f(several)h(panels)g(and) 996 2601 y(brought)5 b(up)i(a)h(view)e(of)h(it.)13 b(The)8 b(digital)d(readou\ t)i(showed)996 2651 y(a)k(sphere)g(shaped)f(object.)1038 2704 y(\252W)n(idth?\ \272)15 b(Harris)10 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b(won')o(t)f(you)h(ever)h(give)f(up?\272)1038 45 y(Darsaya\ e)i(looked)e(at)g(him)h(intently)m(.)j(\252What)d(do)f(you)996 95 y(plan)g (to)g(do?\272)1038 147 y(\252Get)h(out)e(of)h(here,)h(ASAP)-5 b(.\272)1038 200 y(She)12 b(did)e(not)h(recognize)h(the)g(abbreviation,)e(but)h(un-)996 250 y (derstood)i(the)g(intent.)22 b(She)14 b(got)e(up)h(to)g(leave)h(and)f(was)996 300 y(astonished)e(to)g(see)h(Harris)f(following)e(her)n(.)18 b(\252Maintain) 996 349 y(repair)10 b(status.)15 b(I'll)9 b(be)i(back.)16 b(Be)10 b(ready)h (to)f(leave.\272)1038 402 y(\252I'll)f(be)i(here,\272)h(the)e(panel)g(answere\ d.)1038 455 y(Harris)17 b(followed)f(Darsayae)i(back)g(to)f(the)g(control)996 504 y(room,)9 b(where)f(he)g(said)f(his)h(good-byes.)13 b(Cy)7 b(still)f(look\ ed)996 554 y(mif)o(fed)12 b(at)h(being)e(captured)i(but)e(maintained)h(his)f (posi-)996 604 y(tion.)25 b(Darsayae)15 b(then)e(followed)g(him)g(to)g(the)h (airlock,)996 654 y(as)d(did)f(T)m(aalor)g(and)h(Malcorn.)1038 706 y(\252W)m (ait)16 b(a)i(couple)e(of)h(minutes)f(and)h(then)f(open)h(the)996 756 y(doors\ .)28 b(I'll)13 b(be)i(out)f(of)g(here)h(so)f(fast)h(it'll)e(be)i(funny)m(.\ \272)996 806 y(He)f(turned)e(to)h(Darsayae.)26 b(\252Guess)14 b(this)e(is)h (good-bye,)996 856 y(huh?\272)1038 908 y(Darsayae)e(reached)g(up)e(and)h(kiss\ ed)f(him,)h(not)f(gently)996 958 y(as)j(he)g(tried)f(to)g(enter)h(the)f(airlo\ ck.)18 b(He)12 b(turned)f(back)h(to)996 1008 y(the)j(group)f(thinking)f(the)i (same)h(thing)e(Malcorn)g(was:)996 1058 y(W)m(omen!)1038 1110 y(He)d(entered) f(the)g(ship)g(as)h(the)f(door)f(slid)h(shut.)1038 1163 y(\252Nimrod,)j(bring) e(all)i(systems)g(up.\272)22 b(The)14 b(bay)e(door)996 1213 y(slid)i(open)g (again,)h(taking)e(the)i(In\256nite)e(out)g(with)g(it)h(as)996 1262 y(the)i (air)f(which)g(had)h(been)f(pumped)h(in)f(escaped.)32 b(He)996 1312 y(activat\ ed)10 b(the)h(drive)e(and)i(headed)g(away)g(as)f(it)g(closed.)1038 1426 y(\ \252There)h(he)f(is,)g(sir)n(,\272)h(the)f(man)h(at)f(the)f(console)h(spoke.) 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y(head)d(back)g (towards)f(the)g(sphere.)1038 2297 y(\252What)g(are)i(you)d(doing?\272)15 b (Darsayae)c(asked.)1038 2349 y(\252T)m(aking)f(you)g(back!\272)1038 2402 y (\252Not)g(on)g(your)f(life.\272)1038 2455 y(Harris)22 b(paused.)54 b(If)22 b (he)h(went)g(back,)k(W)n(inward)996 2504 y(would)14 b(\256nd)h(out)g(about)f (the)h(sphere)h(and)f(its)f(technol-)996 2554 y(ogy)m(.)36 b(That)17 b(would) f(de\256nitely)g(be)i(a)f(problem.)36 b(But)996 2604 y(to)13 b(keep)h(Darsaya\ e)g(aboard)g(ship?)23 b(Damn.)i(His)13 b(hand)996 2654 y(touched)c(the)g(ACCE\ SS)f(panel)h(and)g(the)g(ship)g(vanished,)996 2704 y(Harris)h(hoping)f(histor\ y)g(wouldn')o(t)f(repeat)j(itself.)955 2828 y(25)p eop bop 166 45 a fh(W)n(inward)11 b(turned)f(to)g(the)g(console.)17 b(\252Gone,) 11 b(sir)n(.)16 b(W)m(e)125 95 y(weren')o(t)10 b(ready)h(to)e(track)i(him.\ \272)166 145 y(W)n(inward)22 b(looked)f(like)h(he)g(would)f(explode)h(but)125 195 y(calmed)17 b(down)e(as)i(his)f(eyes)h(settled)f(on)f(the)h(tactical.)125 244 y(That)10 b(sphere)h(still)d(was)j(on)f(the)g(scanner)n(.)166 294 y(\252L\ et')n(s)f(see)g(what)f(we)g(have)h(here.\272)15 b(W)n(inward)8 b(smiled)125 344 y(as)i(thoughts)f(of)h(conquest)g(crossed)h(his)e(mind.)125 2043 y 831 2 v 40 x fk(Joe)18 b(W)l(alters)g(is)f(curr)n(ently)i(a)f(Senior/Sophomor)n(e)e (in)125 2133 y(Penn)10 b(State')-5 b(s)10 b(2/4)f(year)j(Computer)d(Science)j (pr)n(ogram.)125 2183 y(Neither)e(he)h(nor)g(the)f(University)h(has)g(yet)g (to)f(\256gur)n(e)i(out)125 2233 y(how)i(this)g(works,)j(but)d(both)g(maintai\ n)f(the)h(idea.)29 b(He)125 2283 y(has)12 b(several)i(danger)n(ous)e(hobbies,) h(including)e(skydiv-)125 2332 y(ing)f(and)g(fr)n(ee)i(r)n(ock)h(climbing,)d (which)g(help)h(his)f(friends)125 2382 y(maintain)d(the)i(idea)g(that)g(he)h (is)f(crazy)n(.)16 b(He)10 b(is)f(also)g(a)h(de-)125 2432 y(termined)e(Roll)g (player)h(and)f(Sci-Fi)g(r)n(eader)-5 b(.)17 b(The)9 b(works)125 2482 y(of)j (Niven,)j(Hickman)e(and)g(W)l(eis)g(have)h(been)g(the)f(basis)125 2532 y(for) c(his)h(inspiration.)125 2631 y(He)g(can)h(be)f(r)n(eached)i(at)125 2681 y (JA)n(W107@PSUVM.BITNET)125 2704 y 831 2 v 955 2828 a fh(26)p eop bop 879 52 a fe(Blades)778 152 y fj(by)13 b(Sonia)f(Orin)f(L)m(yris)839 226 y fg(Copyright)1010 225 y(c)999 226 y ff(\015)q fg(1989)166 431 y fe(I)d fh(hav\ e)h(a)f(story)f(to)h(tell)f(you.)14 b(Y)l(es,)9 b(you)e(can)i(sit)e(on)h(my) 125 480 y(lap,)g(little)e(one.)14 b(Now)7 b(the)h(rest)f(of)h(you,)g(settle)f (down)g(and)125 530 y(be)13 b(quiet)f(because)i(this)e(is)h(going)f(to)g(be)h (a)h(good)e(story)m(,)125 580 y(and)d(you)f(want)h(to)f(hear)i(it,)f(don')o (t)f(you?)14 b(All)9 b(right,)f(quiet)125 630 y(now)m(.)166 749 y(There)k(was) g(a)g(certain)f(man)h(who)f(was)h(named)g(Duri,)125 799 y(and)e(he)g(had)g (a)g(special)h(skill,)e(more)h(than)g(skill,)f(it)g(was)h(a)125 849 y(brillia\ nce,)f(a)i(path,)f(and)g(he)g(might)g(have)g(been)h(the)f(best)125 899 y(in)h (his)g(time)g(or)g(maybe)i(ever)f(at)g(what)f(he)h(did.)18 b(See,)c(he)125 948 y(knew)g(the)g(making)g(of)h(the)f(blade)g(like)g(no)g(other)n(.)27 b(He)125 998 y(was)16 b(as)g(good)e(at)i(it)f(as)h(you)f(can)h(ever)g(hope)f(to)g(be)h (at)125 1048 y(anything.)d(Sarel,)e(your)e(father)h(probably)e(knows)h(more) 125 1098 y(about)d(making)h(blades)h(than)f(I)g(do,)h(and)g(maybe)g(he)g(coul\ d)125 1148 y(tell)h(this)h(story)f(better)n(,)i(but)f(that)g(doesn')o(t)g(rea\ lly)g(matter)n(,)125 1197 y(because)g(the)f(story)f(isn')o(t)g(really)h(about) g(making)f(blades,)125 1247 y(it')n(s)h(about)g(Duri.)166 1301 y(Duri)e(was)i (a)f(young)f(man,)i(young)e(for)g(a)h(master)h(of)e(his)125 1351 y(trade,)14 b (but)f(his)g(hands)g(weren')o(t)h(young,)g(and)f(his)g(soul,)125 1401 y(where) 7 b(it)g(touched)g(the)g(blade,)i(where)f(it)e(knew)i(the)f(blade)125 1450 y (and)13 b(knew)g(it)g(like)g(you)f(each)j(know)e(your)f(own)h(faces,)125 1500 y(that)6 b(wasn')o(t)h(young)f(either)n(.)14 b(Y)l(ou)7 b(don')o(t)f(know)g (how)h(it)g(is,)125 1550 y(but)k(maybe)i(you)e(will)g(someday)m(,)j(how)d(it) h(is)f(when)h(you)125 1600 y(learn)c(something)f(so)h(well)g(that)f(every)i (detail)e(of)h(it)f(fades)125 1650 y(away)i(into)e(a)i(kind)e(of)h(dance,)i (so)f(smooth)f(and)g(beautiful)125 1699 y(that)g(everything)g(you)h(do)g(is)g (like)g(something)f(out)h(of)g(the)125 1749 y(center)j(of)g(the)f(world.)20 b (He)12 b(was)h(that)e(good,)h(Duri)f(was,)125 1799 y(so)f(good)f(that)h(he)h (didn')o(t)e(have)h(to)g(worry)g(about)g(how)f(to)125 1849 y(hammer)16 b(the) e(steel,)j(or)d(how)h(to)f(shape)i(it,)f(or)g(how)f(to)125 1899 y(fashion)c (a)h(handle.)16 b(His)11 b(body)e(and)i(spirit)e(spoke)i(to)f(the)125 1949 y (metal)g(and)g(the)h(\256re)f(and)h(then)e(a)i(blade)g(was)f(born.)166 2002 y (Whether)e(the)f(blade)h(was)g(a)h(sword)e(for)g(some)i(warrior)125 2052 y (to)16 b(carve)h(up)g(the)f(evil)g(that)g(attacked)h(his)g(land,)h(or)e(a)125 2102 y(wealthy)7 b(whore')n(s)g(thin)g(blade)h(for)f(explaining)f(the)i(price) 125 2152 y(to)f(a)i(customer)n(,)h(it)d(didn')o(t)g(matter)n(,)i(it)f(was)g (like)g(breathing)125 2202 y(for)i(Duri)g(to)g(make)i(such)f(\256ne)g(work)f (that)g(you)g(couldn')o(t)125 2251 y(\256nd)c(better)h(anywhere)h(for)f(all)g (the)g(money)g(in)f(the)i(world.)166 2305 y(Now)14 b(maybe)h(Duri)e(was)i(too) e(young)g(to)h(be)g(so)g(old,)125 2355 y(and)c(maybe)h(the)f(passion)g(that)g (was)h(in)f(him)g(was)h(eating)125 2405 y(something)h(inside)g(him,)i(too,)f (because)h(he)g(wasn')o(t)f(re-)125 2455 y(ally)f(a)i(happy)f(man.)24 b(He)14 b(had)f(money)m(,)i(all)d(right,)h(a)h(lot)125 2504 y(of)f(it,)h(because)i (anyone)d(who)h(wanted)f(the)h(best)g(blade)125 2554 y(they)d(could)g(have)h (came)i(to)d(Duri)g(and)h(wouldn')o(t)e(settle)125 2604 y(for)i(less)i(if)f (they)g(could)f(help)h(it.)23 b(He)14 b(had)f(money)h(and)125 2654 y(he)f(had) f(fame)i(and)f(he)g(had)g(plenty)e(of)i(people)f(coming)125 2704 y(to)d(him)h (all)g(the)g(time)g(for)g(his)g(work.)1038 426 y(Maybe)15 b(he)g(just)f(had)h (too)g(much.)29 b(Y)l(ou)15 b(ever)g(think)996 476 y(about)f(that,)i(little)d (one?)29 b(Y)l(ou)15 b(ever)g(think)e(about)i(just)996 526 y(having)10 b(too) f(much?)16 b(No?)f(Maybe)c(you)e(should.)1038 581 y(Or)e(maybe)h(Duri)e(saw)i (that)e(his)h(work)f(was)i(for)f(hurting)996 630 y(and)13 b(killing)e(and)i (not)f(much)h(good)g(for)f(anything)g(else,)996 680 y(and)e(maybe)g(he)f(was) h(tired)f(of)f(that.)15 b(I)9 b(don')o(t)f(know)h(what)996 730 y(was)g(in)e (his)h(mind)f(when)h(he)g(went)g(into)f(the)h(caverns)h(past)996 780 y(the)k (town,)h(where)g(there)f(were)h(deep,)h(deep)f(lakes)g(and)996 830 y(dropped) 8 b(his)h(newest)g(blade,)h(which)e(was)i(the)f(best)g(he'd)996 879 y(ever)k (made,)g(into)e(the)g(lake)h(where)h(it)e(sank)h(right)e(away)996 929 y(to)g (the)g(bottom.)1038 984 y(He)g(let)f(it)g(be)h(known)f(that)g(anyone)g(who)h (wanted)f(that)996 1034 y(sword)h(could)f(have)i(it,)f(all)f(they)h(had)g(to) f(do)h(was)h(go)f(and)996 1084 y(get)g(it.)15 b(And)10 b(then)g(he)g(went)g (home.)1038 1139 y(They)i(say)g(he)g(didn')o(t)e(say)i(much)f(of)h(anything)e (when)996 1189 y(they)g(told)f(him)h(about)f(the)h(\256rst)g(boy)g(that)f(had) h(drowned)996 1238 y(trying)e(to)h(get)g(the)h(sword)f(back)h(up.)k(And)9 b (he)h(didn')o(t)e(say)996 1288 y(much)k(when)f(the)g(second)g(boy)g(drowned,) g(or)g(the)g(third,)996 1338 y(which)g(was)h(a)g(girl,)f(or)f(the)i(fourth,)e (which)h(was)h(a)g(man,)996 1388 y(or)i(any)f(of)h(the)f(rest)h(who)g(drowned) f(diving)f(deep)i(into)996 1438 y(the)c(cavern)h(lake)g(looking)d(for)i(that) g(sword.)1038 1493 y(The)g(townspeople)e(were)i(pretty)e(upset)h(by)g(then,)h (and)996 1542 y(so)h(they)g(piled)f(the)h(bodies)f(outside)g(the)h(cavern)g (so)g(that)996 1592 y(people)19 b(would)f(see)i(them)f(and)g(maybe)h(think)e (twice)996 1642 y(about)f(trying)e(for)i(the)g(sword)f(at)h(the)g(bottom)f (of)h(the)996 1692 y(lake.)1038 1747 y(They)12 b(looked)f(at)h(Duri)f(with)g (a)i(lot)e(less)h(respect)h(and)996 1797 y(a)d(lot)e(more)h(anger)h(now)m(,)f (because)i(young)d(and)h(old)f(were)996 1846 y(dying)j(trying)f(to)i(get)g (at)g(the)g(sword)g(he'd)g(made)h(that)e(it)996 1896 y(seemed)h(no)e(one)g (could)f(have.)16 b(They)10 b(began)g(to)g(call)g(the)996 1946 y(sword)i(curs\ ed,)i(and)e(the)h(town)e(elders)i(called)f(Duri)g(up)996 1996 y(in)h(front)f (of)g(them)h(and)h(they)e(told)g(him)h(that)f(too)g(many)996 2046 y(people)17 b(were)h(dying)d(because)k(of)d(his)h(sword)f(and)h(to)996 2096 y(make)12 b (it)d(stop.)1038 2151 y(W)m(ell)k(Duri)g(must)g(have)h(been)g(a)g(sight)f(to) g(see)i(when)996 2200 y(they)d(said)h(that.)21 b(He)13 b(was)g(pretty)f(mad.) 22 b(He)13 b(told)e(them)996 2250 y(that)i(they)f(were)i(fools)e(and)h(idiots) e(if)i(they)f(thought)f(he)996 2300 y(had)e(any)h(control)d(over)i(the)g(gree\ d)h(in)e(men')n(s)i(hearts)f(that)996 2350 y(made)j(them)f(do)f(stupid)g(thin\ gs)f(to)h(get)h(at)f(a)i(sword)e(they)996 2400 y(didn')o(t)f(need)i(anyway)m (.)1038 2455 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b(Y)l(es,)9 b(of)e(course)996 1653 y(you)j (do.)1038 1704 y(Maybe)h(that)f(was)i(Duri')n(s)d(problem,)i(too.)16 b(Everyo\ ne)996 1754 y(told)10 b(him)g(what)h(everything)e(meant,)j(what)e(he)h(was)h (and)996 1804 y(what)e(he)h(should)e(do.)14 b(He)d(was)g(born)e(with)g(a)i (great)f(light)996 1853 y(inside)16 b(him)g(and)h(everyone)g(told)e(him)i(how) f(to)g(shine)996 1903 y(the)g(light)e(outwards)g(and)i(make)h(\256ne)f(blades) g(with)e(it,)996 1953 y(but)d(no)h(one)g(ever)g(said)g(anything)f(about)g(how) h(to)f(shine)996 2003 y(it)i(inside)h(\256rst.)25 b(Maybe)15 b(they)e(just)g (didn')o(t)g(know)g(how)996 2053 y(themselves.)30 b(But)13 b(maybe)j(if)e(Dur\ i)g(had)h(used)g(a)g(little)996 2102 y(of)e(his)g(light)f(to)h(see)h(his)f (own)g(way)g(with)g(he)g(wouldn')o(t)996 2152 y(have)e(had)g(to)f(give)g(birt\ h)f(to)h(my)g(sword)g(with)g(his)g(dying)996 2202 y(blood.)1038 2253 y(Y)l (es,)i(the)f(blade)g(I)g(carry)m(,)h(this)e(one,)i(this)e(is)h(the)g(blade) 996 2303 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