T.MELEE STORY
FILE INFORMATION
FILENAME(S): T.MELEE STORY
FILE TYPE(S): PRG
FILE SIZE: 5.6K
FIRST SEEN: 2025-11-30 18:05:26
APPEARS ON: 1 disk(s)
FILE HASH
f3021ab227c8d068e75391c30334759f1ddffd53cb00075d44cdd2e5beb06a30
FOUND ON DISKS (1 DISKS)
| DISK TITLE | FILENAME | FILE TYPE | COLLECTION | TRACK | SECTOR | ACTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAD TAR 61 S 4 | T.MELEE STORY | PRG | Xii | 3 | 9 | DOWNLOAD FILE |
FILE CONTENT & ANALYSIS
00000000: 00 80 0D 20 20 D4 20 C8 20 C5 20 20 20 D4 20 C1 |... . . . . .| 00000010: 20 CC 20 C5 20 20 20 CF 20 C6 20 20 20 CD 20 C5 | . . . . . .| 00000020: 20 CC 20 C5 20 C5 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 20 20 C2 59 | . . ... .Y| 00000030: 20 C3 4C 45 56 45 4C 41 4E 44 20 CD 2E 20 C2 4C | .LEVELAND .. .L| 00000040: 41 4B 45 4D 4F 52 45 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C9 20 48 |AKEMORE.. . H| 00000050: 41 44 20 43 52 4F 53 53 45 44 20 54 48 45 20 44 |AD CROSSED THE D| 00000060: 52 59 20 4C 41 4B 45 20 42 41 53 49 4E 0D 57 49 |RY LAKE BASIN.WI| 00000070: 54 48 20 4D 49 4E 49 4D 41 4C 20 50 52 4F 56 49 |TH MINIMAL PROVI| 00000080: 53 49 4F 4E 53 2C 20 53 50 45 41 52 49 4E 47 0D |SIONS, SPEARING.| 00000090: 4C 49 5A 41 52 44 53 20 46 4F 52 20 53 55 53 54 |LIZARDS FOR SUST| 000000A0: 45 4E 41 4E 43 45 20 41 4E 44 20 53 55 43 4B 49 |ENANCE AND SUCKI| 000000B0: 4E 47 20 54 48 45 0D 46 4C 55 49 44 53 20 4F 55 |NG THE.FLUIDS OU| 000000C0: 54 20 4F 46 20 54 48 45 20 52 41 52 45 4C 59 20 |T OF THE RARELY | 000000D0: 53 54 55 4D 42 4C 45 44 20 55 50 4F 4E 0D 56 45 |STUMBLED UPON.VE| 000000E0: 47 45 54 41 54 49 4F 4E 2E 20 20 D4 48 45 20 53 |GETATION. .HE S| 000000F0: 55 4E 20 48 41 44 20 4C 4F 4E 47 0D 44 49 53 41 |UN HAD LONG.DISA| 00000100: 50 50 45 41 52 45 44 20 4F 56 45 52 20 54 48 45 |PPEARED OVER THE| 00000110: 20 48 4F 52 49 5A 4F 4E 20 46 4F 52 20 54 48 45 | HORIZON FOR THE| 00000120: 0D 54 48 49 52 44 20 54 49 4D 45 20 57 48 45 4E |.THIRD TIME WHEN| 00000130: 20 4D 59 20 44 45 48 59 44 52 41 54 45 44 20 53 | MY DEHYDRATED S| 00000140: 48 45 4C 4C 0D 52 45 41 43 48 45 44 20 54 48 45 |HELL.REACHED THE| 00000150: 20 46 41 52 20 53 48 4F 52 45 20 4F 46 20 54 48 | FAR SHORE OF TH| 00000160: 45 20 44 45 41 44 0D 50 4C 41 49 4E 2E 20 20 D4 |E DEAD.PLAIN. .| 00000170: 48 45 52 45 20 C9 20 57 41 53 20 42 45 4C 49 54 |HERE . WAS BELIT| 00000180: 54 4C 45 44 20 42 59 20 54 48 45 0D 4D 41 4A 45 |TLED BY THE.MAJE| 00000190: 53 54 59 20 4F 46 20 4F 46 20 54 48 45 20 4D 4F |STY OF OF THE MO| 000001A0: 55 4E 54 41 49 4E 20 52 41 4E 47 45 0D 42 45 46 |UNTAIN RANGE.BEF| 000001B0: 4F 52 45 20 4D 45 2E 20 20 D4 48 45 20 54 52 49 |ORE ME. .HE TRI| 000001C0: 43 4B 4C 45 20 4F 46 20 54 48 45 0D 4D 4F 55 4E |CKLE OF THE.MOUN| 000001D0: 54 41 49 4E 20 53 54 52 45 41 4D 20 52 45 56 49 |TAIN STREAM REVI| 000001E0: 56 45 44 20 4D 45 2C 20 54 48 45 20 4D 49 4C 4B |VED ME, THE MILK| 000001F0: 0D 41 4E 44 20 46 4C 45 53 48 20 4F 46 20 47 4F |.AND FLESH OF GO| 00000200: 41 54 53 20 52 45 53 54 4F 52 49 4E 47 20 54 48 |ATS RESTORING TH| 00000210: 45 0D 46 4C 45 53 48 20 54 4F 20 4D 59 20 42 4F |E.FLESH TO MY BO| 00000220: 4E 45 53 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C9 54 20 54 4F 4F |NES... .T TOO| 00000230: 4B 20 4D 41 4E 59 20 47 4F 41 54 53 20 41 4E 44 |K MANY GOATS AND| 00000240: 20 4D 41 4E 59 20 44 41 59 53 0D 54 4F 20 52 45 | MANY DAYS.TO RE| 00000250: 50 4C 45 4E 49 53 48 20 4D 59 20 53 54 52 45 4E |PLENISH MY STREN| 00000260: 47 54 48 2E 20 20 D7 48 49 4C 45 20 C9 0D 52 45 |GTH. .HILE ..RE| 00000270: 43 4F 56 45 52 45 44 2C 20 C9 20 4B 45 50 54 20 |COVERED, . KEPT | 00000280: 4D 59 20 45 59 45 53 20 57 49 44 45 2C 20 4D 59 |MY EYES WIDE, MY| 00000290: 0D 48 41 4E 44 20 4E 45 41 52 20 4D 59 20 44 41 |.HAND NEAR MY DA| 000002A0: 47 47 45 52 2E 20 20 CF 4E 20 4D 59 20 46 49 46 |GGER. .N MY FIF| 000002B0: 54 48 0D 44 41 59 20 49 4E 20 54 48 45 20 53 54 |TH.DAY IN THE ST| 000002C0: 52 41 4E 47 45 20 4C 41 4E 44 2C 20 C9 20 48 41 |RANGE LAND, . HA| 000002D0: 44 0D 52 45 47 41 49 4E 45 44 20 45 4E 4F 55 47 |D.REGAINED ENOUG| 000002E0: 48 20 53 54 52 45 4E 47 54 48 20 54 4F 20 43 4F |H STRENGTH TO CO| 000002F0: 4E 54 49 4E 55 45 2E 0D D4 48 45 20 4D 4F 4F 4E |NTINUE...HE MOON| 00000300: 20 57 41 53 20 41 20 50 55 46 46 59 2C 20 53 4C | WAS A PUFFY, SL| 00000310: 45 45 50 49 4E 47 20 46 41 43 45 0D 50 45 45 4B |EEPING FACE.PEEK| 00000320: 49 4E 47 20 4F 56 45 52 20 54 48 45 20 43 4C 49 |ING OVER THE CLI| 00000330: 46 46 53 20 41 42 4F 56 45 20 57 48 45 4E 20 C9 |FFS ABOVE WHEN .| 00000340: 0D 48 41 50 50 45 4E 45 44 20 55 50 4F 4E 20 41 |.HAPPENED UPON A| 00000350: 20 53 4D 41 4C 4C 20 43 4C 45 41 52 49 4E 47 2E | SMALL CLEARING.| 00000360: 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C1 4E 20 41 4E 43 49 45 4E 54 |.. .N ANCIENT| 00000370: 20 53 45 4E 49 4C 45 20 53 4F 4F 54 48 20 53 41 | SENILE SOOTH SA| 00000380: 54 20 4F 4E 20 41 0D 53 4C 41 42 20 4F 46 20 53 |T ON A.SLAB OF S| 00000390: 4D 4F 4F 54 48 20 53 48 45 45 54 52 4F 43 4B 2C |MOOTH SHEETROCK,| 000003A0: 20 53 4F 4C 45 4D 4E 4C 59 0D 53 49 4E 47 49 4E | SOLEMNLY.SINGIN| 000003B0: 47 20 4F 4C 44 20 53 54 41 4E 44 42 59 20 43 48 |G OLD STANDBY CH| 000003C0: 41 4E 54 53 20 54 4F 20 53 48 4F 4F 0D 41 57 41 |ANTS TO SHOO.AWA| 000003D0: 59 20 55 4E 57 41 4E 54 45 44 20 53 55 43 43 55 |Y UNWANTED SUCCU| 000003E0: 42 49 2E 20 20 C1 53 20 C9 20 45 4E 54 45 52 45 |BI. .S . ENTERE| 000003F0: 44 0D 54 48 45 20 4F 52 41 4E 47 45 20 47 4C 4F |D.THE ORANGE GLO| 00000400: 57 20 4F 46 20 48 49 53 20 44 59 49 4E 47 20 46 |W OF HIS DYING F| 00000410: 49 52 45 20 48 45 0D 52 45 4D 41 49 4E 45 44 20 |IRE HE.REMAINED | 00000420: 53 45 41 54 45 44 2C 20 49 4D 4D 45 52 53 45 44 |SEATED, IMMERSED| 00000430: 20 49 4E 20 48 49 53 0D 43 48 41 4E 54 49 4E 47 | IN HIS.CHANTING| 00000440: 2E 0D 0D 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 20 22 C7 4F 4F 44 20 |..... ".OOD | 00000450: 45 56 45 4E 49 4E 47 2C 20 4F 4C 44 20 4D 41 4E |EVENING, OLD MAN| 00000460: 2C 22 20 C9 0D 4D 55 52 4D 55 52 45 44 2C 20 48 |," ..MURMURED, H| 00000470: 41 49 4C 49 4E 47 20 48 49 4D 20 57 49 54 48 20 |AILING HIM WITH | 00000480: 41 4E 0D 4F 55 54 53 54 52 45 54 43 48 45 44 20 |AN.OUTSTRETCHED | 00000490: 48 41 4E 44 20 41 53 20 C9 20 43 41 55 54 49 4F |HAND AS . CAUTIO| 000004A0: 55 53 4C 59 0D 53 51 55 41 54 54 45 44 20 4E 45 |USLY.SQUATTED NE| 000004B0: 58 54 20 54 4F 20 48 49 53 20 46 49 52 45 2E 0D |XT TO HIS FIRE..| 000004C0: 0D 20 20 20 20 20 C8 45 20 42 41 52 45 4C 59 20 |. .E BARELY | 000004D0: 42 4F 54 48 45 52 45 44 20 54 4F 20 47 4C 41 4E |BOTHERED TO GLAN| 000004E0: 43 45 20 55 50 0D 41 54 20 4D 45 2E 20 20 22 D9 |CE UP.AT ME. ".| 000004F0: 4F 55 20 43 52 4F 53 53 45 44 20 54 48 45 20 44 |OU CROSSED THE D| 00000500: 52 59 20 4C 41 4B 45 20 42 45 44 0D 41 4E 44 20 |RY LAKE BED.AND | 00000510: 4B 49 4C 4C 45 44 20 4D 59 20 47 4F 41 54 53 22 |KILLED MY GOATS"| 00000520: 20 48 45 20 53 41 49 44 0D 44 49 53 49 4E 54 45 | HE SAID.DISINTE| 00000530: 52 45 53 54 45 44 4C 59 2C 20 41 53 20 49 46 20 |RESTEDLY, AS IF | 00000540: 43 52 4F 53 53 49 4E 47 20 54 48 45 0D 42 45 44 |CROSSING THE.BED| 00000550: 20 48 41 44 20 42 45 45 4E 20 4E 4F 20 47 52 45 | HAD BEEN NO GRE| 00000560: 41 54 20 46 45 41 54 20 2D 20 41 53 20 49 46 20 |AT FEAT - AS IF | 00000570: 48 49 53 0D 47 4F 41 54 53 20 48 45 4C 44 20 4E |HIS.GOATS HELD N| 00000580: 4F 20 56 41 4C 55 45 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 20 22 |O VALUE... "| 00000590: C6 4F 52 47 49 56 45 20 4D 59 20 47 4C 55 54 54 |.ORGIVE MY GLUTT| 000005A0: 4F 4E 59 20 42 55 54 20 C9 0D 43 45 52 54 41 49 |ONY BUT ..CERTAI| 000005B0: 4E 4C 59 20 57 4F 55 4C 44 20 48 41 56 45 20 50 |NLY WOULD HAVE P| 000005C0: 45 52 49 53 48 45 44 2E 20 20 C9 20 4F 4E 4C 59 |ERISHED. . ONLY| 000005D0: 0D 4B 49 4C 4C 45 44 20 54 57 4F 20 4F 46 20 54 |.KILLED TWO OF T| 000005E0: 48 45 4D 2E 22 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 20 22 D7 48 45 |HEM.".. ".HE| 000005F0: 4E 43 45 20 4C 49 45 53 20 59 4F 55 52 20 44 45 |NCE LIES YOUR DE| 00000600: 53 54 49 4E 41 54 49 4F 4E 2C 0D 59 4F 55 4E 47 |STINATION,.YOUNG| 00000610: 20 54 52 41 56 45 4C 45 52 3F 22 0D 0D 20 20 20 | TRAVELER?".. | 00000620: 20 20 C9 20 53 4D 49 4C 45 44 20 43 48 45 45 52 | . SMILED CHEER| 00000630: 46 55 4C 4C 59 2C 20 20 22 C9 20 48 41 56 45 20 |FULLY, ". HAVE | 00000640: 4E 4F 0D 44 45 53 54 49 4E 41 54 49 4F 4E 2C 20 |NO.DESTINATION, | 00000650: 4F 4C 44 20 4D 41 4E 2E 20 20 C9 20 53 45 45 4B |OLD MAN. . SEEK| 00000660: 20 4F 4E 4C 59 0D 52 49 43 48 45 53 20 41 4E 44 | ONLY.RICHES AND| 00000670: 20 41 44 56 45 4E 54 55 52 45 2E 20 20 C9 20 41 | ADVENTURE. . A| 00000680: 4D 20 54 4F 4F 20 4A 41 44 45 44 0D 54 4F 20 46 |M TOO JADED.TO F| 00000690: 45 41 52 20 44 45 41 54 48 20 41 4E 44 20 54 4F |EAR DEATH AND TO| 000006A0: 4F 20 41 4C 49 56 45 20 54 4F 20 53 45 54 54 4C |O ALIVE TO SETTL| 000006B0: 45 0D 44 4F 57 4E 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 22 D5 53 |E.DOWN... ".S| 000006C0: 55 41 4C 4C 59 20 C9 20 57 41 4C 4B 20 57 48 45 |UALLY . WALK WHE| 000006D0: 52 45 20 4D 59 20 46 45 45 54 0D 54 41 4B 45 20 |RE MY FEET.TAKE | 000006E0: 4D 45 2C 20 41 4E 44 20 54 48 45 59 20 4F 46 54 |ME, AND THEY OFT| 000006F0: 20 46 49 4E 44 20 53 4F 4D 45 54 48 49 4E 47 0D | FIND SOMETHING.| 00000700: 4F 46 20 49 4E 54 45 52 45 53 54 20 54 4F 20 53 |OF INTEREST TO S| 00000710: 48 4F 57 20 4D 45 2E 20 20 C2 55 54 20 C9 20 48 |HOW ME. .UT . H| 00000720: 45 41 52 0D 54 48 41 54 20 4E 4F 4E 45 20 48 41 |EAR.THAT NONE HA| 00000730: 56 45 20 52 45 54 55 52 4E 45 44 20 46 52 4F 4D |VE RETURNED FROM| 00000740: 20 54 48 49 53 0D 50 4C 41 43 45 2E 20 20 C9 20 | THIS.PLACE. . | 00000750: 53 45 45 4B 20 54 4F 20 42 45 20 54 48 45 20 46 |SEEK TO BE THE F| 00000760: 49 52 53 54 2E 22 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C8 45 20 53 |IRST.".. .E S| 00000770: 4D 49 4C 45 44 20 42 41 43 4B 2C 20 42 55 54 20 |MILED BACK, BUT | 00000780: 53 4F 4D 45 54 48 49 4E 47 20 49 4E 0D 48 49 53 |SOMETHING IN.HIS| 00000790: 20 45 59 45 53 20 43 48 49 4C 4C 45 44 20 4D 45 | EYES CHILLED ME| 000007A0: 2E 20 20 C9 20 52 45 41 44 49 45 44 20 54 4F 0D |. . READIED TO.| 000007B0: 44 45 46 45 4E 44 20 4D 59 53 45 4C 46 20 53 48 |DEFEND MYSELF SH| 000007C0: 4F 55 4C 44 20 54 48 49 53 20 4F 4C 44 20 53 41 |OULD THIS OLD SA| 000007D0: 47 45 0D 50 52 4F 56 45 20 54 4F 20 42 45 20 41 |GE.PROVE TO BE A| 000007E0: 20 44 45 4D 4F 4E 20 49 4E 20 44 49 53 47 55 49 | DEMON IN DISGUI| 000007F0: 53 45 2E 0D 0D 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 22 D9 4F 55 20 |SE..... ".OU | 00000800: 57 49 4C 4C 20 42 45 20 54 48 45 20 46 49 52 53 |WILL BE THE FIRS| 00000810: 54 20 2D 20 49 46 20 59 4F 55 0D 41 52 45 20 57 |T - IF YOU.ARE W| 00000820: 49 53 45 20 45 4E 4F 55 47 48 20 54 4F 20 54 55 |ISE ENOUGH TO TU| 00000830: 52 4E 20 41 52 4F 55 4E 44 20 41 4E 44 0D 46 4C |RN AROUND AND.FL| 00000840: 45 45 20 4E 4F 57 20 41 4E 44 20 4E 4F 54 20 42 |EE NOW AND NOT B| 00000850: 45 20 54 45 4D 50 54 45 44 20 42 59 20 54 48 45 |E TEMPTED BY THE| 00000860: 0D 56 41 53 54 20 54 52 45 41 53 55 52 45 53 20 |.VAST TREASURES | 00000870: 47 55 41 52 44 45 44 20 42 59 20 44 45 4D 4F 4E |GUARDED BY DEMON| 00000880: 53 20 49 4E 0D 54 48 45 20 45 4D 50 54 59 20 53 |S IN.THE EMPTY S| 00000890: 54 52 45 45 54 53 20 4F 46 20 C7 49 4C 47 41 4D |TREETS OF .ILGAM| 000008A0: 45 53 48 2E 20 20 C1 0D 53 54 4F 4E 45 27 53 20 |ESH. ..STONE'S | 000008B0: 54 48 52 4F 57 20 54 4F 20 54 48 45 20 57 45 53 |THROW TO THE WES| 000008C0: 54 20 4C 49 45 20 54 48 45 0D 41 43 43 55 52 53 |T LIE THE.ACCURS| 000008D0: 45 44 20 52 55 49 4E 53 2E 20 20 CF 4E 43 45 20 |ED RUINS. .NCE | 000008E0: 41 20 47 52 45 41 54 20 50 4F 4C 49 53 2C 0D 49 |A GREAT POLIS,.I| 000008F0: 54 20 49 53 20 4E 4F 55 47 48 54 20 42 55 54 20 |T IS NOUGHT BUT | 00000900: 41 20 4E 45 53 54 20 46 4F 52 20 56 55 4C 54 55 |A NEST FOR VULTU| 00000910: 52 45 53 0D 41 4E 44 20 44 45 4D 4F 4E 53 2E 20 |RES.AND DEMONS. | 00000920: 20 C9 54 53 20 53 54 52 45 45 54 53 20 4C 49 45 | .TS STREETS LIE| 00000930: 20 45 4D 50 54 59 2C 0D 54 48 45 20 57 49 4E 44 | EMPTY,.THE WIND| 00000940: 4F 57 53 20 42 4F 41 52 44 45 44 2C 20 49 54 53 |OWS BOARDED, ITS| 00000950: 20 44 4F 4F 52 53 0D 4E 41 49 4C 45 44 20 53 48 | DOORS.NAILED SH| 00000960: 55 54 2E 20 20 D2 41 54 53 20 43 52 41 57 4C 20 |UT. .ATS CRAWL | 00000970: 49 4E 20 54 48 45 0D 41 4C 4C 45 59 53 20 41 4E |IN THE.ALLEYS AN| 00000980: 44 20 43 4F 55 52 54 59 41 52 44 53 20 53 45 41 |D COURTYARDS SEA| 00000990: 52 43 48 49 4E 47 20 46 4F 52 0D 52 4F 54 54 49 |RCHING FOR.ROTTI| 000009A0: 4E 47 20 52 45 4D 41 49 4E 53 20 4F 46 20 46 4F |NG REMAINS OF FO| 000009B0: 4F 4C 53 20 57 48 4F 20 48 41 56 45 0D 44 41 52 |OLS WHO HAVE.DAR| 000009C0: 45 44 20 54 4F 20 45 4E 54 45 52 20 54 48 45 20 |ED TO ENTER THE | 000009D0: 47 41 54 45 53 2E 20 20 CE 45 54 48 45 52 0D 43 |GATES. .ETHER.C| 000009E0: 52 45 41 54 55 52 45 53 20 48 49 44 45 20 54 48 |REATURES HIDE TH| 000009F0: 45 4D 53 45 4C 56 45 53 20 49 4E 20 43 4C 4F 41 |EMSELVES IN CLOA| 00000A00: 4B 53 0D 4F 46 20 44 41 52 4B 4E 45 53 53 2C 20 |KS.OF DARKNESS, | 00000A10: 53 45 41 52 43 48 49 4E 47 20 46 4F 52 20 48 55 |SEARCHING FOR HU| 00000A20: 4D 41 4E 0D 46 4C 45 53 48 20 54 4F 20 50 41 53 |MAN.FLESH TO PAS| 00000A30: 54 45 20 54 4F 20 54 48 45 49 52 20 46 4F 52 4D |TE TO THEIR FORM| 00000A40: 53 2E 20 20 C9 46 0D 59 4F 55 20 41 52 45 20 57 |S. .F.YOU ARE W| 00000A50: 49 53 45 2C 20 59 4F 55 20 54 55 52 4E 20 42 41 |ISE, YOU TURN BA| 00000A60: 43 4B 20 4E 4F 57 21 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C9 20 4F |CK NOW!.. . O| 00000A70: 4E 4C 59 20 48 45 41 52 44 20 4F 4E 45 20 57 4F |NLY HEARD ONE WO| 00000A80: 52 44 20 44 55 52 49 4E 47 20 54 48 45 0D 43 4F |RD DURING THE.CO| 00000A90: 55 52 53 45 20 4F 46 20 48 49 53 20 44 49 53 53 |URSE OF HIS DISS| 00000AA0: 45 52 54 41 54 49 4F 4E 2E 20 20 22 C4 49 44 20 |ERTATION. ".ID | 00000AB0: 59 4F 55 0D 4D 45 4E 54 49 4F 4E 2E 2E 2E 20 D4 |YOU.MENTION... .| 00000AC0: D2 C5 C1 D3 D5 D2 C5 3F 22 20 20 C9 20 41 53 4B |.......?" . ASK| 00000AD0: 45 44 2C 20 4D 59 0D 45 59 45 53 20 41 47 4C 4F |ED, MY.EYES AGLO| 00000AE0: 57 2C 20 4D 59 20 46 49 4E 47 45 52 53 20 54 57 |W, MY FINGERS TW| 00000AF0: 49 54 43 48 49 4E 47 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C8 45 |ITCHING... .E| 00000B00: 20 52 41 4B 45 44 20 48 49 53 20 46 49 4E 47 45 | RAKED HIS FINGE| 00000B10: 52 53 20 54 48 52 4F 55 47 48 20 48 49 53 0D 53 |RS THROUGH HIS.S| 00000B20: 43 41 4E 54 20 57 48 49 54 45 20 48 41 49 52 2C |CANT WHITE HAIR,| 00000B30: 20 57 41 49 4C 49 4E 47 20 54 4F 20 54 48 45 20 | WAILING TO THE | 00000B40: 53 4B 59 0D 49 4E 20 4D 59 20 42 45 48 41 4C 46 |SKY.IN MY BEHALF| 00000B50: 2E 20 20 C9 54 20 57 41 53 4E 27 54 20 55 4E 54 |. .T WASN'T UNT| 00000B60: 49 4C 20 4C 41 54 45 52 0D 54 48 41 54 20 C9 20 |IL LATER.THAT . | 00000B70: 52 45 41 4C 49 5A 45 44 20 54 48 41 54 20 48 45 |REALIZED THAT HE| 00000B80: 20 43 55 52 53 49 4E 47 20 4D 45 0D 46 4F 52 20 | CURSING ME.FOR | 00000B90: 42 45 49 4E 47 20 54 48 45 20 46 4F 4F 4C 20 C9 |BEING THE FOOL .| 00000BA0: 20 57 41 53 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C9 20 4D 41 52 | WAS... . MAR| 00000BB0: 56 45 4C 4C 45 44 20 41 54 20 48 49 53 20 49 4E |VELLED AT HIS IN| 00000BC0: 43 41 4E 54 41 54 49 4F 4E 53 2C 0D 44 45 53 49 |CANTATIONS,.DESI| 00000BD0: 52 49 4E 47 20 4D 4F 53 54 20 48 45 41 52 54 49 |RING MOST HEARTI| 00000BE0: 4C 59 20 54 4F 20 48 41 56 45 20 41 20 4C 4F 4F |LY TO HAVE A LOO| 00000BF0: 4B 0D 41 54 20 54 48 45 20 43 49 54 59 2E 20 20 |K.AT THE CITY. | 00000C00: C9 20 50 55 4C 4C 45 44 20 4D 59 20 42 45 44 52 |. PULLED MY BEDR| 00000C10: 4F 4C 4C 0D 48 49 47 48 45 52 20 4F 4E 20 4D 59 |OLL.HIGHER ON MY| 00000C20: 20 53 48 4F 55 4C 44 45 52 20 41 4E 44 20 53 54 | SHOULDER AND ST| 00000C30: 4F 4F 44 20 54 4F 20 4D 59 0D 46 45 45 54 2C 20 |OOD TO MY.FEET, | 00000C40: 44 52 41 57 49 4E 47 20 4D 59 20 44 41 47 47 45 |DRAWING MY DAGGE| 00000C50: 52 20 57 49 54 48 20 46 41 4C 53 45 0D 42 52 41 |R WITH FALSE.BRA| 00000C60: 56 41 44 4F 20 54 4F 20 53 48 4F 57 20 54 48 45 |VADO TO SHOW THE| 00000C70: 20 4F 4C 44 20 4D 41 4E 2E 0D 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 | OLD MAN.... | 00000C80: 22 C5 56 45 4E 20 41 20 44 45 4D 4F 4E 20 57 49 |".VEN A DEMON WI| 00000C90: 4C 4C 20 46 4C 45 45 20 54 48 45 0D 50 4F 49 4E |LL FLEE THE.POIN| 00000CA0: 54 20 4F 46 20 41 20 53 49 4C 56 45 52 20 44 41 |T OF A SILVER DA| 00000CB0: 47 47 45 52 2C 20 46 52 49 45 4E 44 2E 0D CD 45 |GGER, FRIEND...E| 00000CC0: 54 48 49 4E 4B 53 20 C9 20 53 48 41 4C 4C 20 57 |THINKS . SHALL W| 00000CD0: 41 4E 44 45 52 20 49 4E 20 C7 49 4C 47 41 4D 45 |ANDER IN .ILGAME| 00000CE0: 53 48 0D 54 4F 20 46 55 52 54 48 45 52 20 54 48 |SH.TO FURTHER TH| 00000CF0: 45 20 47 4C 4F 52 59 20 4F 46 20 4D 59 20 4E 41 |E GLORY OF MY NA| 00000D00: 4D 45 2E 22 20 20 CD 59 0D 57 4F 52 44 53 20 52 |ME." .Y.WORDS R| 00000D10: 41 4E 47 20 48 4F 4C 4C 4F 57 20 41 53 20 48 45 |ANG HOLLOW AS HE| 00000D20: 20 41 4E 53 57 45 52 45 44 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 | ANSWERED... | 00000D30: 20 22 D4 48 45 4E 20 57 48 45 4E 20 4E 45 58 54 | ".HEN WHEN NEXT| 00000D40: 20 57 45 20 4D 45 45 54 2C 20 49 54 20 53 48 41 | WE MEET, IT SHA| 00000D50: 4C 4C 0D 42 45 20 41 54 20 54 48 45 20 47 41 54 |LL.BE AT THE GAT| 00000D60: 45 53 20 4F 46 20 48 45 4C 4C 2E 20 20 C9 46 20 |ES OF HELL. .F | 00000D70: 59 4F 55 20 45 4E 54 45 52 0D 54 48 45 20 43 49 |YOU ENTER.THE CI| 00000D80: 54 59 2C 20 46 4F 4F 4C 2C 20 59 4F 55 20 57 49 |TY, FOOL, YOU WI| 00000D90: 4C 4C 20 42 45 20 44 4F 4F 4D 45 44 20 54 4F 0D |LL BE DOOMED TO.| 00000DA0: 52 4F 41 4D 20 54 48 45 20 53 54 52 45 45 54 53 |ROAM THE STREETS| 00000DB0: 2C 20 54 52 41 4E 53 46 4F 52 4D 45 44 20 49 4E |, TRANSFORMED IN| 00000DC0: 54 4F 20 41 4E 0D 4F 52 43 2C 20 41 20 57 45 52 |TO AN.ORC, A WER| 00000DD0: 45 2D 52 41 54 20 2D 20 4F 52 20 53 49 4D 50 4C |E-RAT - OR SIMPL| 00000DE0: 59 20 46 4F 44 44 45 52 20 46 4F 52 0D 54 48 45 |Y FODDER FOR.THE| 00000DF0: 20 4F 4E 45 53 20 41 4C 52 45 41 44 59 20 54 48 | ONES ALREADY TH| 00000E00: 45 52 45 2E 20 20 D4 48 45 20 45 4E 54 49 52 45 |ERE. .HE ENTIRE| 00000E10: 0D 45 58 50 41 4E 53 45 20 49 53 20 41 20 47 52 |.EXPANSE IS A GR| 00000E20: 45 41 54 20 54 52 41 50 20 46 4F 52 20 44 45 4D |EAT TRAP FOR DEM| 00000E30: 4F 4E 53 2C 20 54 4F 0D 53 45 50 41 52 41 54 45 |ONS, TO.SEPARATE| 00000E40: 20 54 48 45 4D 20 46 52 4F 4D 20 54 48 45 20 48 | THEM FROM THE H| 00000E50: 55 4D 41 4E 0D 50 4F 50 55 4C 41 54 49 4F 4E 20 |UMAN.POPULATION | 00000E60: 55 4E 54 49 4C 20 54 48 45 20 41 47 45 20 4F 46 |UNTIL THE AGE OF| 00000E70: 20 44 45 4D 4F 4E 53 0D 45 4E 44 53 2E 0D 0D 0D | DEMONS.ENDS....| 00000E80: 0D 20 20 20 20 22 D4 48 45 20 4F 4E 4C 59 20 57 |. ".HE ONLY W| 00000E90: 41 59 20 54 4F 20 45 4E 54 45 52 20 49 53 20 54 |AY TO ENTER IS T| 00000EA0: 48 52 4F 55 47 48 0D 41 20 53 4C 49 4D 45 2D 43 |HROUGH.A SLIME-C| 00000EB0: 4F 56 45 52 45 44 20 41 51 55 41 44 55 43 54 2E |OVERED AQUADUCT.| 00000EC0: 20 20 D9 4F 55 27 4C 4C 0D 46 49 4E 44 20 54 48 | .OU'LL.FIND TH| 00000ED0: 41 54 20 4C 45 41 56 49 4E 47 20 49 53 20 4E 4F |AT LEAVING IS NO| 00000EE0: 54 20 53 4F 20 53 49 4D 50 4C 45 2C 0D 46 4F 52 |T SO SIMPLE,.FOR| 00000EF0: 20 54 48 45 20 53 45 4C 46 53 41 4D 45 20 44 55 | THE SELFSAME DU| 00000F00: 43 54 20 54 48 41 54 20 53 50 45 45 44 53 20 54 |CT THAT SPEEDS T| 00000F10: 4F 0D 54 4F 20 54 48 45 20 52 45 53 45 56 4F 49 |O.TO THE RESEVOI| 00000F20: 52 20 49 53 20 54 4F 4F 20 53 4C 49 50 50 45 52 |R IS TOO SLIPPER| 00000F30: 59 20 41 4E 44 0D 53 54 45 45 50 20 54 4F 20 43 |Y AND.STEEP TO C| 00000F40: 4C 49 4D 42 20 4F 55 54 20 4F 46 2E 20 20 D4 48 |LIMB OUT OF. .H| 00000F50: 45 20 4F 4E 4C 59 20 4B 45 59 0D 54 4F 20 54 48 |E ONLY KEY.TO TH| 00000F60: 45 20 4D 41 49 4E 20 47 41 54 45 20 49 53 20 4B |E MAIN GATE IS K| 00000F70: 45 50 54 20 42 59 20 41 20 50 52 49 45 53 54 0D |EPT BY A PRIEST.| 00000F80: 57 48 4F 20 48 41 53 20 52 45 4D 41 49 4E 45 44 |WHO HAS REMAINED| 00000F90: 20 49 4E 20 48 49 53 20 43 48 55 52 43 48 20 54 | IN HIS CHURCH T| 00000FA0: 48 4F 55 47 48 0D 41 4C 4C 20 48 49 53 20 50 41 |HOUGH.ALL HIS PA| 00000FB0: 52 49 53 48 20 48 41 53 20 46 4C 45 44 20 49 4E |RISH HAS FLED IN| 00000FC0: 20 54 45 52 52 4F 52 2E 0D C9 46 20 59 4F 55 20 | TERROR...F YOU | 00000FD0: 41 52 45 20 54 4F 20 4C 45 41 56 45 2C 20 59 4F |ARE TO LEAVE, YO| 00000FE0: 55 20 57 49 4C 4C 20 48 41 56 45 20 54 4F 0D 42 |U WILL HAVE TO.B| 00000FF0: 41 52 47 41 49 4E 20 57 49 54 48 20 48 49 4D 20 |ARGAIN WITH HIM | 00001000: 46 4F 52 20 54 48 45 20 4B 45 59 2E 20 20 CC 49 |FOR THE KEY. .I| 00001010: 4B 45 4C 59 0D 41 53 20 4E 4F 54 20 59 4F 55 20 |KELY.AS NOT YOU | 00001020: 57 49 4C 4C 20 45 4E 44 20 55 50 20 52 4F 41 4D |WILL END UP ROAM| 00001030: 49 4E 47 20 54 48 45 0D 41 42 41 4E 44 4F 4E 45 |ING THE.ABANDONE| 00001040: 44 20 53 54 52 45 45 54 53 20 49 4E 20 4D 41 44 |D STREETS IN MAD| 00001050: 4E 45 53 53 20 42 45 46 4F 52 45 0D 59 4F 55 20 |NESS BEFORE.YOU | 00001060: 44 49 53 41 50 50 45 41 52 20 49 4E 54 4F 20 54 |DISAPPEAR INTO T| 00001070: 48 45 20 4D 41 57 20 4F 46 20 53 4F 4D 45 0D 54 |HE MAW OF SOME.T| 00001080: 45 52 52 49 42 4C 45 20 46 45 4C 4C 20 42 45 41 |ERRIBLE FELL BEA| 00001090: 53 54 2E 22 20 20 C8 45 20 53 4E 4F 52 54 45 44 |ST." .E SNORTED| 000010A0: 2C 0D 54 55 52 4E 49 4E 47 20 48 49 53 20 46 41 |,.TURNING HIS FA| 000010B0: 43 45 20 41 57 41 59 20 46 52 4F 4D 20 4D 45 20 |CE AWAY FROM ME | 000010C0: 49 4E 0D 43 4F 4E 54 45 4D 50 54 2E 0D 0D 0D 20 |IN.CONTEMPT.... | 000010D0: 20 20 20 C9 20 41 52 4F 53 45 20 41 4E 44 20 57 | . AROSE AND W| 000010E0: 41 4C 4B 45 44 20 50 41 53 54 20 48 49 4D 2C 0D |ALKED PAST HIM,.| 000010F0: 54 52 4F 44 44 49 4E 47 20 55 50 20 54 48 45 20 |TRODDING UP THE | 00001100: 53 4C 4F 50 45 20 54 4F 20 54 48 45 20 48 49 47 |SLOPE TO THE HIG| 00001110: 48 0D 50 45 41 4B 53 20 41 42 4F 56 45 2C 20 54 |H.PEAKS ABOVE, T| 00001120: 4F 53 53 49 4E 47 20 48 49 4D 20 54 57 4F 20 43 |OSSING HIM TWO C| 00001130: 4F 49 4E 53 0D 46 4F 52 20 54 48 45 20 47 4F 41 |OINS.FOR THE GOA| 00001140: 54 53 20 41 53 20 C9 20 50 41 53 53 45 44 2E 0D |TS AS . PASSED..| 00001150: 0D 20 20 20 20 22 C6 41 52 45 20 54 48 45 45 20 |. ".ARE THEE | 00001160: 57 45 4C 4C 2C 20 4F 4C 44 20 4D 41 4E 2E 20 20 |WELL, OLD MAN. | 00001170: C9 20 41 4D 0D 4F 46 46 20 54 4F 20 C7 49 4C 47 |. AM.OFF TO .ILG| 00001180: 41 4D 45 53 48 20 55 4E 44 45 52 20 54 48 45 20 |AMESH UNDER THE | 00001190: 4C 49 47 48 54 20 4F 46 0D 54 48 49 53 20 4D 4F |LIGHT OF.THIS MO| 000011A0: 4F 4E 2C 20 41 4E 44 20 57 4F 45 20 54 4F 20 41 |ON, AND WOE TO A| 000011B0: 4E 59 20 46 49 45 4E 44 20 57 48 4F 0D 54 4F 55 |NY FIEND WHO.TOU| 000011C0: 43 48 45 53 20 4D 45 20 57 48 45 4E 20 C9 20 41 |CHES ME WHEN . A| 000011D0: 4D 20 54 48 49 53 20 47 49 44 44 59 20 57 49 54 |M THIS GIDDY WIT| 000011E0: 48 0D 43 55 52 49 4F 53 49 54 59 21 22 0D 0D 20 |H.CURIOSITY!".. | 000011F0: 20 20 20 C8 45 20 43 48 4F 52 54 4C 45 44 20 4C | .E CHORTLED L| 00001200: 4F 55 44 4C 59 2C 20 4D 55 54 54 45 52 49 4E 47 |OUDLY, MUTTERING| 00001210: 20 54 4F 0D 48 49 4D 53 45 4C 46 2C 20 52 41 49 | TO.HIMSELF, RAI| 00001220: 53 49 4E 47 20 53 50 41 52 4B 53 20 49 4E 20 48 |SING SPARKS IN H| 00001230: 49 53 20 46 49 52 45 0D 57 49 54 48 20 41 20 53 |IS FIRE.WITH A S| 00001240: 54 49 43 4B 20 41 53 20 C9 20 53 54 52 4F 44 45 |TICK AS . STRODE| 00001250: 20 41 57 41 59 2E 20 20 22 D9 45 0D C7 4F 44 53 | AWAY. ".E..ODS| 00001260: 2C 20 C7 49 4C 47 41 4D 45 53 48 21 20 20 C8 4F |, .ILGAMESH! .O| 00001270: 57 20 46 41 52 20 59 45 20 48 41 56 45 0D 46 41 |W FAR YE HAVE.FA| 00001280: 4C 4C 45 4E 21 20 20 D9 4F 55 27 56 45 20 42 45 |LLEN! .OU'VE BE| 00001290: 43 4F 4D 45 20 41 20 53 54 45 57 50 4F 54 20 46 |COME A STEWPOT F| 000012A0: 4F 52 0D 54 48 45 20 42 4F 4E 45 53 20 4F 46 20 |OR.THE BONES OF | 000012B0: 59 4F 55 4E 47 20 54 48 49 45 56 45 53 20 41 4E |YOUNG THIEVES AN| 000012C0: 44 20 46 4F 4F 4C 53 21 22 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 22 |D FOOLS!".. "| 000012D0: C1 20 53 57 49 46 54 20 41 4E 44 20 50 41 49 4E |. SWIFT AND PAIN| 000012E0: 4C 45 53 53 20 44 45 41 54 48 20 C9 0D 50 52 41 |LESS DEATH ..PRA| 000012F0: 59 20 46 4F 52 20 59 4F 55 21 20 20 CE 45 56 45 |Y FOR YOU! .EVE| 00001300: 52 20 4C 4F 4F 4B 20 55 50 4F 4E 20 54 48 45 20 |R LOOK UPON THE | 00001310: 45 59 45 0D 4F 46 20 54 48 45 20 44 45 4D 4F 4E |EYE.OF THE DEMON| 00001320: 20 54 48 41 54 20 53 4C 41 59 53 20 59 4F 55 20 | THAT SLAYS YOU | 00001330: 45 4C 53 45 20 42 45 0D 46 4F 52 43 45 44 20 54 |ELSE BE.FORCED T| 00001340: 4F 20 52 4F 41 4D 20 54 48 45 20 4E 45 54 48 45 |O ROAM THE NETHE| 00001350: 52 57 4F 52 4C 44 20 46 4F 52 0D 54 45 4E 20 54 |RWORLD FOR.TEN T| 00001360: 48 4F 55 53 41 4E 44 20 43 45 4E 54 55 52 49 45 |HOUSAND CENTURIE| 00001370: 53 20 49 4E 20 48 49 53 20 46 4F 52 4D 2E 22 0D |S IN HIS FORM.".| 00001380: 0D 20 20 20 20 C8 49 53 20 57 41 52 4E 49 4E 47 |. .IS WARNING| 00001390: 53 20 54 45 4D 50 54 45 44 20 4D 45 20 42 41 43 |S TEMPTED ME BAC| 000013A0: 4B 20 42 55 54 0D 4D 59 20 50 52 49 44 45 20 50 |K BUT.MY PRIDE P| 000013B0: 55 4C 4C 45 44 20 4D 45 20 46 4F 52 57 41 52 44 |ULLED ME FORWARD| 000013C0: 20 49 4E 54 4F 0D 52 49 43 48 45 53 20 41 4E 44 | INTO.RICHES AND| 000013D0: 20 47 4C 4F 52 59 2E 20 20 C4 45 41 54 48 20 41 | GLORY. .EATH A| 000013E0: 54 20 54 48 45 20 48 41 4E 44 53 0D 4F 46 20 41 |T THE HANDS.OF A| 000013F0: 20 44 45 4D 4F 4E 20 57 41 53 20 4E 4F 54 20 54 | DEMON WAS NOT T| 00001400: 48 45 20 4D 4F 53 54 0D 44 49 53 48 4F 4E 4F 52 |HE MOST.DISHONOR| 00001410: 41 42 4C 45 20 4D 4F 44 45 20 4F 46 20 50 41 53 |ABLE MODE OF PAS| 00001420: 53 41 47 45 2E 20 20 C9 20 53 4C 49 44 0D 54 48 |SAGE. . SLID.TH| 00001430: 52 4F 55 47 48 20 54 48 45 20 4D 55 43 4B 20 54 |ROUGH THE MUCK T| 00001440: 4F 20 54 48 45 20 43 49 54 59 27 53 0D 4C 49 5A |O THE CITY'S.LIZ| 00001450: 41 52 44 2D 46 49 4C 4C 45 44 20 52 45 53 45 52 |ARD-FILLED RESER| 00001460: 56 4F 49 52 2C 20 4C 41 4E 44 49 4E 47 20 57 49 |VOIR, LANDING WI| 00001470: 54 48 0D 41 20 52 45 53 4F 55 4E 44 49 4E 47 20 |TH.A RESOUNDING | 00001480: 53 50 4C 41 53 48 2E 20 20 C1 20 54 48 4F 55 53 |SPLASH. . THOUS| 00001490: 41 4E 44 0D 54 59 50 45 53 20 4F 46 20 56 45 52 |AND.TYPES OF VER| 000014A0: 4D 49 4E 20 46 4C 45 44 20 54 48 45 20 50 4F 4F |MIN FLED THE POO| 000014B0: 4C 2C 0D 53 43 55 52 52 59 49 4E 47 20 49 4E 20 |L,.SCURRYING IN | 000014C0: 45 56 45 52 59 20 44 49 52 45 43 54 49 4F 4E 20 |EVERY DIRECTION | 000014D0: 54 4F 20 48 49 44 45 0D 46 52 4F 4D 20 4D 45 2E |TO HIDE.FROM ME.| 000014E0: 20 20 C9 20 41 4C 53 4F 20 53 45 4E 53 45 44 20 | . ALSO SENSED | 000014F0: 4D 41 4E 59 20 4F 54 48 45 52 0D 45 59 45 53 20 |MANY OTHER.EYES | 00001500: 4F 4E 20 4D 45 20 2D 20 54 48 45 20 45 59 45 53 |ON ME - THE EYES| 00001510: 20 4F 46 20 4D 41 4C 45 56 4F 4C 45 4E 54 0D 45 | OF MALEVOLENT.E| 00001520: 4E 54 49 54 49 45 53 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C9 46 |NTITIES... .F| 00001530: 20 C9 20 53 48 4F 55 4C 44 20 44 49 45 20 48 45 | . SHOULD DIE HE| 00001540: 52 45 20 41 54 20 54 48 45 20 48 41 4E 44 53 0D |RE AT THE HANDS.| 00001550: 4F 46 20 54 48 45 53 45 20 42 45 41 53 54 53 2C |OF THESE BEASTS,| 00001560: 20 4D 59 20 53 4F 4E 53 20 57 4F 55 4C 44 20 42 | MY SONS WOULD B| 00001570: 45 0D 50 52 4F 55 44 20 54 48 41 54 20 C9 2E 2E |E.PROUD THAT ...| 00001580: 2E 20 20 DA 4F 55 4E 44 53 21 20 20 C9 20 48 41 |. .OUNDS! . HA| 00001590: 56 45 4E 27 54 0D 41 4E 59 20 43 48 49 4C 44 52 |VEN'T.ANY CHILDR| 000015A0: 45 4E 20 59 45 54 2E 20 20 CD 41 59 48 41 50 20 |EN YET. .AYHAP | 000015B0: C9 20 53 48 4F 55 4C 44 0D 4C 4F 43 41 54 45 20 |. SHOULD.LOCATE | 000015C0: 41 20 57 49 46 45 20 42 45 46 4F 52 45 20 C9 20 |A WIFE BEFORE . | 000015D0: 45 4E 54 45 52 2E 2E 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 C2 59 |ENTER..... .Y| 000015E0: 20 54 48 45 20 47 4F 44 53 21 20 20 D4 48 45 20 | THE GODS! .HE | 000015F0: 47 41 54 45 20 48 41 53 20 4C 4F 43 4B 44 0D 42 |GATE HAS LOCKD.B| 00001600: 45 48 49 4E 44 20 4D 45 20 4A 55 53 54 20 41 53 |EHIND ME JUST AS| 00001610: 20 54 48 45 20 4F 4C 44 20 4D 41 4E 0D 50 52 45 | THE OLD MAN.PRE| 00001620: 44 49 43 54 45 44 2E 20 20 CF 48 20 57 45 4C 4C |DICTED. .H WELL| 00001630: 2E 20 20 C7 4C 4F 52 59 20 49 53 20 4D 4F 52 45 |. .LORY IS MORE| 00001640: 0D 49 4D 50 4F 52 54 41 4E 54 20 54 48 41 4E 20 |.IMPORTANT THAN | 00001650: 53 4F 4E 53 2C 20 53 4F 20 C9 20 4D 55 53 54 20 |SONS, SO . MUST | 00001660: 42 45 2E 2E 2E 0D 0D 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 |BE..... | 00001670: 2A 2A 2A 2A 20 CF 4E 20 54 4F 20 C7 4C 4F 52 59 |**** .N TO .LORY| 00001680: 20 2A 2A 2A 2A 0D | ****. |
... T H E T A L E O F M E L E E..
BY CLEVELAND M. BLAKEMORE.. I H
AD CROSSED THE DRY LAKE BASIN.WITH MINIM
AL PROVISIONS, SPEARING.LIZARDS FOR SUST
ENANCE AND SUCKING THE.FLUIDS OUT OF THE
RARELY STUMBLED UPON.VEGETATION. THE S
UN HAD LONG.DISAPPEARED OVER THE HORIZON
FOR THE.THIRD TIME WHEN MY DEHYDRATED S
HELL.REACHED THE FAR SHORE OF THE DEAD.P
LAIN. THERE I WAS BELITTLED BY THE.MAJE
STY OF OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGE.BEFORE ME.
THE TRICKLE OF THE.MOUNTAIN STREAM REVI
VED ME, THE MILK.AND FLESH OF GOATS REST
ORING THE.FLESH TO MY BONES... IT TOO
K MANY GOATS AND MANY DAYS.TO REPLENISH
MY STRENGTH. WHILE I.RECOVERED, I KEPT
MY EYES WIDE, MY.HAND NEAR MY DAGGER. O
N MY FIFTH.DAY IN THE STRANGE LAND, I HA
D.REGAINED ENOUGH STRENGTH TO CONTINUE..
THE MOON WAS A PUFFY, SLEEPING FACE.PEEK
ING OVER THE CLIFFS ABOVE WHEN I.HAPPENE
D UPON A SMALL CLEARING... AN ANCIENT
SENILE SOOTH SAT ON A.SLAB OF SMOOTH SH
EETROCK, SOLEMNLY.SINGING OLD STANDBY CH
ANTS TO SHOO.AWAY UNWANTED SUCCUBI. AS
I ENTERED.THE ORANGE GLOW OF HIS DYING F
IRE HE.REMAINED SEATED, IMMERSED IN HIS.
CHANTING..... "GOOD EVENING, OLD MAN
," I.MURMURED, HAILING HIM WITH AN.OUTST
RETCHED HAND AS I CAUTIOUSLY.SQUATTED NE
XT TO HIS FIRE... HE BARELY BOTHERED
TO GLANCE UP.AT ME. "YOU CROSSED THE D
RY LAKE BED.AND KILLED MY GOATS" HE SAID
.DISINTERESTEDLY, AS IF CROSSING THE.BED
HAD BEEN NO GREAT FEAT - AS IF HIS.GOAT
S HELD NO VALUE... "FORGIVE MY GLUTT
ONY BUT I.CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE PERISHED.
I ONLY.KILLED TWO OF THEM.".. "WHE
NCE LIES YOUR DESTINATION,.YOUNG TRAVELE
R?".. I SMILED CHEERFULLY, "I HAVE
NO.DESTINATION, OLD MAN. I SEEK ONLY.RI
CHES AND ADVENTURE. I AM TOO JADED.TO F
EAR DEATH AND TOO ALIVE TO SETTLE.DOWN..
. "USUALLY I WALK WHERE MY FEET.TAKE
ME, AND THEY OFT FIND SOMETHING.OF INTER
EST TO SHOW ME. BUT I HEAR.THAT NONE HA
VE RETURNED FROM THIS.PLACE. I SEEK TO
BE THE FIRST.".. HE SMILED BACK, BUT
SOMETHING IN.HIS EYES CHILLED ME. I REA
DIED TO.DEFEND MYSELF SHOULD THIS OLD SA
GE.PROVE TO BE A DEMON IN DISGUISE.....
"YOU WILL BE THE FIRST - IF YOU.ARE W
ISE ENOUGH TO TURN AROUND AND.FLEE NOW A
ND NOT BE TEMPTED BY THE.VAST TREASURES
GUARDED BY DEMONS IN.THE EMPTY STREETS O
F GILGAMESH. A.STONE'S THROW TO THE WES
T LIE THE.ACCURSED RUINS. ONCE A GREAT
POLIS,.IT IS NOUGHT BUT A NEST FOR VULTU
RES.AND DEMONS. ITS STREETS LIE EMPTY,.
THE WINDOWS BOARDED, ITS DOORS.NAILED SH
UT. RATS CRAWL IN THE.ALLEYS AND COURTY
ARDS SEARCHING FOR.ROTTING REMAINS OF FO
OLS WHO HAVE.DARED TO ENTER THE GATES.
NETHER.CREATURES HIDE THEMSELVES IN CLOA
KS.OF DARKNESS, SEARCHING FOR HUMAN.FLES
H TO PASTE TO THEIR FORMS. IF.YOU ARE W
ISE, YOU TURN BACK NOW!.. I ONLY HEAR
D ONE WORD DURING THE.COURSE OF HIS DISS
ERTATION. "DID YOU.MENTION... TREASURE?
" I ASKED, MY.EYES AGLOW, MY FINGERS TW
ITCHING... HE RAKED HIS FINGERS THROU
GH HIS.SCANT WHITE HAIR, WAILING TO THE
SKY.IN MY BEHALF. IT WASN'T UNTIL LATER
.THAT I REALIZED THAT HE CURSING ME.FOR
BEING THE FOOL I WAS... I MARVELLED A
T HIS INCANTATIONS,.DESIRING MOST HEARTI
LY TO HAVE A LOOK.AT THE CITY. I PULLED
MY BEDROLL.HIGHER ON MY SHOULDER AND ST
OOD TO MY.FEET, DRAWING MY DAGGER WITH F
ALSE.BRAVADO TO SHOW THE OLD MAN....
"EVEN A DEMON WILL FLEE THE.POINT OF A S
ILVER DAGGER, FRIEND..METHINKS I SHALL W
ANDER IN GILGAMESH.TO FURTHER THE GLORY
OF MY NAME." MY.WORDS RANG HOLLOW AS HE
ANSWERED... "THEN WHEN NEXT WE MEET
, IT SHALL.BE AT THE GATES OF HELL. IF
YOU ENTER.THE CITY, FOOL, YOU WILL BE DO
OMED TO.ROAM THE STREETS, TRANSFORMED IN
TO AN.ORC, A WERE-RAT - OR SIMPLY FODDER
FOR.THE ONES ALREADY THERE. THE ENTIRE
.EXPANSE IS A GREAT TRAP FOR DEMONS, TO.
SEPARATE THEM FROM THE HUMAN.POPULATION
UNTIL THE AGE OF DEMONS.ENDS..... "TH
E ONLY WAY TO ENTER IS THROUGH.A SLIME-C
OVERED AQUADUCT. YOU'LL.FIND THAT LEAVI
NG IS NOT SO SIMPLE,.FOR THE SELFSAME DU
CT THAT SPEEDS TO.TO THE RESEVOIR IS TOO
SLIPPERY AND.STEEP TO CLIMB OUT OF. TH
E ONLY KEY.TO THE MAIN GATE IS KEPT BY A
PRIEST.WHO HAS REMAINED IN HIS CHURCH T
HOUGH.ALL HIS PARISH HAS FLED IN TERROR.
.IF YOU ARE TO LEAVE, YOU WILL HAVE TO.B
ARGAIN WITH HIM FOR THE KEY. LIKELY.AS
NOT YOU WILL END UP ROAMING THE.ABANDONE
D STREETS IN MADNESS BEFORE.YOU DISAPPEA
R INTO THE MAW OF SOME.TERRIBLE FELL BEA
ST." HE SNORTED,.TURNING HIS FACE AWAY
FROM ME IN.CONTEMPT.... I AROSE AND W
ALKED PAST HIM,.TRODDING UP THE SLOPE TO
THE HIGH.PEAKS ABOVE, TOSSING HIM TWO C
OINS.FOR THE GOATS AS I PASSED... "FA
RE THEE WELL, OLD MAN. I AM.OFF TO GILG
AMESH UNDER THE LIGHT OF.THIS MOON, AND
WOE TO ANY FIEND WHO.TOUCHES ME WHEN I A
M THIS GIDDY WITH.CURIOSITY!".. HE CH
ORTLED LOUDLY, MUTTERING TO.HIMSELF, RAI
SING SPARKS IN HIS FIRE.WITH A STICK AS
I STRODE AWAY. "YE.GODS, GILGAMESH! HO
W FAR YE HAVE.FALLEN! YOU'VE BECOME A S
TEWPOT FOR.THE BONES OF YOUNG THIEVES AN
D FOOLS!".. "A SWIFT AND PAINLESS DEA
TH I.PRAY FOR YOU! NEVER LOOK UPON THE
EYE.OF THE DEMON THAT SLAYS YOU ELSE BE.
FORCED TO ROAM THE NETHERWORLD FOR.TEN T
HOUSAND CENTURIES IN HIS FORM.".. HIS
WARNINGS TEMPTED ME BACK BUT.MY PRIDE P
ULLED ME FORWARD INTO.RICHES AND GLORY.
DEATH AT THE HANDS.OF A DEMON WAS NOT T
HE MOST.DISHONORABLE MODE OF PASSAGE. I
SLID.THROUGH THE MUCK TO THE CITY'S.LIZ
ARD-FILLED RESERVOIR, LANDING WITH.A RES
OUNDING SPLASH. A THOUSAND.TYPES OF VER
MIN FLED THE POOL,.SCURRYING IN EVERY DI
RECTION TO HIDE.FROM ME. I ALSO SENSED
MANY OTHER.EYES ON ME - THE EYES OF MALE
VOLENT.ENTITIES... IF I SHOULD DIE HE
RE AT THE HANDS.OF THESE BEASTS, MY SONS
WOULD BE.PROUD THAT I... ZOUNDS! I HA
VEN'T.ANY CHILDREN YET. MAYHAP I SHOULD
.LOCATE A WIFE BEFORE I ENTER..... BY
THE GODS! THE GATE HAS LOCKD.BEHIND ME
JUST AS THE OLD MAN.PREDICTED. OH WELL
. GLORY IS MORE.IMPORTANT THAN SONS, SO
I MUST BE..... **** ON TO GLORY
****.
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