RW read the message from Professor
Thietris with a great sense of loss. He had never been
able to meet Dr Elkae, and now that possibility was
beyond reach it seemed. The loss was his own. He was
however thankful that he had at least been able to help
her with her bags when she had been rescued from the
lake.
RW thought about the sample and of the
results. The anchor was the DNA extracted from the
skeleton on Kadish Tolesa. Mitochondrial DNA analysis
was done on that sample by his friend Petri. From the
comb sample, even though there was mostly burro DNA,
there was also human DNA. Deposited on the comb by Dr.
Elkae, who had used it to comb the burros
mane.
Elkae had gone in search of the decendents
of the D'ni. I seemed, she need'nt had gone so far.
Early this morning RW had recieved another report from
Petri. The link was unmistakable. Perhaps it was the
same for others who felt the call to the fizzure. (Dr
Elkae, perhaps just overly tired, had miss understood a
key part of Yeesha's message before she had plummeted
into the lake). Perhaps the Hopi were the decendants of
the D'ni, that was yet to be proven. There was no doubt
about Elkae. Elkae was D'ni.
RW would need of
course to share this information with the Professor and
others. The research and wit of these explorations would
go on he hoped and chose to believe so. RW sincerely
desired to be a part of that, as no doubt did many
others. The Professors invitations was clearly extended
to all.
RW looked up and gazed across the
cavern. "To Dr Elkae, esteemed member of the
Called."
Off in Kemo, Grizz spent hours
scrambling around at the base of the cliff enclosing the
age. He examined closely every bit of rock art he could
find. Finally, in a remote area often overlooked by
explorers, he found what he sought. It was faint, the
colors faded, but still...there it was! He took his
digital camera from his pack and took careful pictures,
as close up as he could get. Then, smiling with
satisfaction, he stowed the camera away and linked
out.
_______________________________ Prop.
D'ni Internal Supply Co. "If we don't have it, you
don't need it!"
Veronica was in the middle of making the
"stomach-lining dissolving" pot of coffee when Grizz
came into the store. He obviously had alot on his mind
and he didn't waste anytime with 'good morning' or 'how
are you feeling today'.
"Nica, we need to have a
talk."
Veronica sat down on the stool next to the
counter. "Yes?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm
no longer a danger to
society. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next time Thietris looked at his
desk he saw a small pile of papers and a copy of an Eder
Gira linking book.
Professor T,
Since I
have now completed most of my notes on the Kings of
D'ni, I am now going to begin research into the Algae in
the waters of D'ni cavern. Of course, my current base of
operations in the Rotunda may not be sufficient for this
research, as I plan to investigate the fungus and
bacteria in all of the known ages. If anyone needs to
desperately get in contact with me, send a note through
this Linking Book and I'll recieve it and
respond.
I fear my research may keep me
constantly on the move, in case the Algae ends up trying
to stop me discovering its secrets. I shall however
continue sending you my research notes and any progress
I can make on anti-algae
devices.
Cheers, FM
With Professor
T now informed of his rather ambitious research scheme,
FM headed off to DISCO to purchase the necessary
equipment. He walked in with a list already written up,
and stood in front of the empty counter hoping that he
wasn't shopping past the DISCOs trading
hours...
((((((Elkae!)))))
FrontMullet Team
Bahro Investigative Researcher. The Palace
Rotunda D'ni Cavern
Grizz put both hands on the counter and
looked at Veronica for a moment. She couldn't tell from
the look how he was feeling, but for some reason, she
began to feel apprehensive.
He began speaking
softly.
"Veronica, you have worked out very well
here. Even better than I had hoped. But it's time you
got out of here to see more of the hood and the cavern,
maybe do a little thinking and exploring on your
own."
Her face fell, convinced that she had done
something even Grizz couldn't forgive, and she was
getting the boot.
Grizz reached out and put a
finger under her chin, raising her head so he could look
her in the face.
"Hey," he said. "Don't look so
down. You will always have a place here for as long as
you like and whenever you like. Folks are used to you
now, and I just feel like you should have more chances
to get out there among them and take a bigger part in
the cavern."
As he talked, one hand was fumbling
around under the counter. When he pulled the hand back
and placed it on the counter, there was something hidden
under it.
"When you're here, and I hope it's
often, I want you to wear this."
He took the
hidden object, which proved to be a badge, and handed it to Veronica. Then
he dropped his hand, and waited for her
reaction.
_______________________________ Prop.
D'ni Internal Supply Co. "If we don't have it, you
don't need it!"
Veronica was so shocked that she was
speechless. Fortunately for her, frontmullet who had
walked in earlier and then had went off exploring the
aisles, returned at that moment with his list of
supplies. He greeted Grizz and the two walked away to
fill the order.
She looked down at the badge
again. No one...no one had ever put that much
faith in her. She had been upset yesterday because she
felt as if she did not fit in here and now this?! She
did not know what to make of it, but suddenly she felt a
new sense of purpose and it was a good feeling
indeed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm no longer
a danger to
society. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did you hear the news?" asked Grassie
after the party. "Yes, I did... so sad... " Speedy said, looking a
little bluer than before. "I really do hope that
there can be a way for Elkae to come back sometime soon.
I'll miss her wits, comedy, and adventures..." Grassie
murmurred. "Oh wait, what are you talking about?"
asked Speedy "Didn't you hear
that Elkae has left us?" asked Grassie, startled. "Om
my! I did not hear
that! When did this happen? And where did she go, RL?"
Speedy asked. "The news was made during the party...
what were you talking about?" Grassie asked. "Well,
Dr. Warrell went over to Veronica to talk to her, but
she just turned around and left, without saying a word!
How cold!" Speedy explained. "Wow, that is bad..."
Grassie said. "But anyways, your news is worse..."
Speedy said, getting blue again "Where is Dr. Warrell
now anyways?" Grassie asked. "He left. He took one of
the bags with him, so I am assuming that he went to the
fountain to meet us there to check out that mansion...
poor man," Speedy said. "Well, at least he has some
of the essence of Elkae with him. No matter what, she is
always exploring! Let's follow and try to get merry
again," Grassie suggested, taking another bag. "Ok,
that sounds good," said Speedy as she picked up the last
bag and the two of them walked to the fountain, where
they did find Dr. Warrell. He was sitting on the rim of
it, still holding his acorn mead mug in hand. "You
ok, Dr. Warrell?" asked Speedy. "She didn't even say
a word..." Dr. Warrell muttered in a combination of
being sad and angry. "You want to know something, she
is a cold woman. She's never been too nice to people
around here. In fact, I heard that she tried to wipe up
an ink spill that she made with some papers of
Thietris', and then threw the papers out! How
considerate is that?" Grassie said, trying to soothe Dr.
Warrell. "Not very... but still, she just looked at
me funny, turned around and left. I believe she muttered
nerd under her breath... do I look that much of a nerd?"
asked Dr. Warrell. Grassie and Speedy sat back and
looked at him. Sure, his big black rimmmed glasses and
parted hair on top doesn't really help, nor his boyish
features or pocket protecter... "Hrm... maybe a
little..." said Speedy, "But then again, you are an
intellectual and that is how people of that kind
dress!" Dr. Warrell sighed. "I saw my reflection in
this water. I do look like a nerd. I really need to
change this look,... at least look more like people down
here. You know; jeans, t-shirts, boots, messy hair...
I've always hated being criticized on my
looks," "Don't worry about it buddy. Looks don't
matter down here. If they did, would you even be friends
with me and Speedy here? No. It's who you ARE that
matters. We like you for who you are, not how you look.
Veronica doesn't understand that aspect of this
community here. Come on, let's do something fun..."
Grassie said, putting a paw around Dr. Warrell's
shoulders. "Play with electrons and make them to cool
tricks?" asked Dr. Warrell, getting a hopeful look to
his face. "Umm..." Grassie stared. "No, something
better! Let's finish exploring that house so we can
check out those books we've found," Speedy
interrupted. Dr. Warrell thought. "Can we play that
imager again? Please?" "Sure. Why not?" Grassie said,
and Speedy quietly groaned. "Ok!" Now with renewed
spirits, Dr. Warrell, Speedy, and Grassie all went into
the old house, beginning their
explorations.
Studying gives you knowledge.
Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. I am learning how to
be corrupt.
Grizz took care of FM's needs, and,
leaving Veronica to consider her changed status in the
store, went to the surface. In his surface office he
downloaded the pictures he had taken in Eder Kemo,
examined them, selected one, and printed it together
with a scan of the picture sent to him by his friend on
his Australian junket.
Then he composed a note to
send with them.
"Dear Professor" he wrote. "I am
not noted as a researcher, but I hope that won't keep
you from giving this your serious consideration.
While on a junket in Australia, a friend took
many pictures of Aboriginal rock art. He has visited the
cleft, so when he noticed something in one of the
pictures he realized it might have great significance.
He sent it to me by email.
When I got it, I was
instantly reminded of a vague impression I got that
stayed in my memory from my first visit to Eder Kemo. It
didn't really register on my mind at the time, but his
letter and picture brought back the memory. I went to
Eder Kemo as soon as I could to look again to see if my
memory was accurate. It was. After I spent some time
looking for it (couldn't remember exactly where it was),
I found the Kemo glyph, and took a picture.
I
have placed them both on the same sheet so they can be
seen side by side. I hope you will agree that they raise
startling implications.
I strongly believe that
the Bahro will prove to be far more important, and more
far-reaching in influence than anyone yet believes. I
don't, of course, know exactly what this means, but I am
beginning to have a glimmer of a theory. I strongly
suggest that we stop treating the Bahro like jokes and
give them the respect I believe they fully deserve. I
further believe that all the glyphs in Eder Kemo should
be studied much more in depth, particularly in light of
the connection Elkae found between them and the ancient
cultures that once thrived around the cleft
area.
I would be happy to discuss my theory with
you, or with anyone else that may be
interested.
RW, who had been sitting by the fountain
just about jumped out of his gord, the hairs on the back
of his neck, arms, and head standing straight up.
"wh.ww..hhhooo..wwwhhooooo sssaaaiid th.th.thaaattt!" He
croaked!
As soon as
he could get unfrozen, he quickly reached into his pack
and pulled out several of the brightest white fire
marbles he could find. "DDDDDDD'ni ghosts! wwwwell, I
ain't afraid of no ghosts!"
Veronica, who had spent the entire day
lost on sub-level three, had just managed to make it
back to the surface of the store when she heard RW shout
from the courtyard. She ran as fast as she could up the
stairway past Heek, Inc. and saw RW holding onto some
fire marbles for dear life.
"Whatever is the
matter with you? You look like you've seen a
ghost!"
RW stammered..."I-I did n-not s-see one,
but I did h-hear
one."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm no longer a
danger to
society. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RW VERY releaved that there was now a
LIVING soul here stared at Veronica. "By all that's
HEEK, did you hear it Veronica?" It came from, well, it
seemed to come from, well, just everywhere. Yes, I know
that's not scientific!" stated RW to veronica, tension
causing his voice to be a little high, squeeky and
loud.
Veronica, not accustomed to giving
comfort, felt very bad for RW, who seemed beside himself
with fear. She put an awkward hand on his shoulder and
gave it a pat. "I only heard you. I did not hear
anything else." She looked around at the deserted
couryard. "All I hear is the fountain." RW is still
looking around nervously and his fingers are turning
blue from gripping the fire marbles. "I was just making
a fresh pot of coffee, would you care for a
cup?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm no longer a
danger to
society. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Experimental Program
1
Supplier of umbrellas to the D'ni for
Centuries.
I did not hear
that! When did this happen? And where did she go, RL?"
Speedy asked.
Security, 
