From: aaron@space.ualberta.ca (Aaron Humphrey)
Subject: [KQ] Nirvan[Buff']: Stop The Press!
Reply-To: aaron@space.ualberta.ca
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 05:41:35 GMT

Nirvan was twitching nervously.  He would almost have been pacing if Jacinthe
had let him up from the bed.  But Tvarne had commanded a day's rest, and that's
what Nirvan would get.

"Why did they go into the Shunned Center?" he kept asking.  "Why did they go
with Seer, of all people?  Damn!"  Hercli and Agoust were out spreading the
word of the heroic entrance of Kron and company, but who knew what it would
really amount to.  Most likely, "and they were never seen again."

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"What the bleeding Hell was that!" Nirvan said, sitting up in shock.

Jacinthe was equally shaken.  "I don't know.  But I've heard the Shunrunners
talk about something called the Press, when they go into the Shunned Center.
Some of them describe it as a gibbering voice like that, or a multitude of
them.  But we're nowhere near the Center!  We're practically on the edge of the
Buff'!"

Nirvan's mind was working.  "It's got something to do with Kron and Maleiu.  I
just know it.  It's too much of a coincidence otherwise.  Damn!  If I could
only be there..."

Jacinthe looked at him sternly.  "If you were in there, you'd likely be dead.
And I wouldn't like that at all."  Suddenly afraid she had said too much, she
turned back to the window.  A party of Shunrunners seemed to be going from
house to house.

Nirvan was too preoccupied with examining the ramifications of Jacinthe's last
statement, and what it did to his heart, to notice the Shunrunners until they
were at the door.  "H'lo, Zlee," Jacinthe said.

"How do, Jacinthe," Zlee said.  "Got a new bird, eh?" he said as his eyes fell
on Nirvan.

Jacinthe blushed.  "Listen--what >was< that?  Was it the Press, breaking out of
the Center?"

Zlee shrugged.  "That's what Drew thinks.  We're just checking to see that
everyone in the Buff's okay.  Old Grandpa Lirich had a heart attack, but that
was due any day anyhow.  Other than that, a lot of confusion, a few people
jarred a bit, but nothing much."  His voice carried a touch of pride at Buffer
toughness.

"Drew think that Kron and those that went into the Center had something to do
with it?"

Zlee shrugged.  "Could be--but..." he lowered his voice and glanced at his
companions, who were chatting a few feet away, "Drew's planning to go into the
Dead Zone."

Jacinthe and Nirvan whistled.  Nirvan had only the vaguest idea what the Dead
Zone was, but it >sounded< impressive, if not boding too well for Kron and
Co....  "So it's serious, then."

"Hopefully it's just a freak occurrence," Zlee said.  Jacinthe nodded, trying
to imagine what it would be like if the Shunned Center expanded, and the Buff'
had to move outward.  It wouldn't be easy this time--nobody would be giving
them their land for free; they'd have to take it.

"Anyway," Zlee said, "I've got ta go.  We've got a bunch more to check on
'fore we're done.  Talk ta ya later."

"Zlee, wait.  You know that if there's wounded, you can bring them here, and
I'll look at them.  Maybe we can even fetch a healer or two.  Kron and his
friends might have connections at Dragon's Inn and elsewhere.  We'll see what
we can do."

Zlee smiled.  "I'll tell 'em.  Thanks, Jacinthe."  Then he and his friends were
gone.

Nirvan raised his eyebrows.  "So you really are the lay priestess of the Buff',
eh?"

Jacinthe blushed.  "I just hate seeing anything in pain, especially people."

Just then, Hercli dashed in.  "The word's spread in my area.  I'm hungry,
Jacinthe."  Jacinthe gave him a bit of jerky, and he gnawed on it with gusto.

"Hercli, you should go fetch Delmara, up at the Temple of Aditi.  We might have
some wounded here soon, and her skills could come in handy."

Hercli grinned.  "Interesting news about Delmara.  The Temple of Aditi got
trashed by the Demon Spiders last night.  She was seen in Low City a few
times, with Queriche, ex of the Scrappy Ram and currently of Moriarty
Investigations.  Once they went into the Spitting Cobra, with some other guy,
new, name of Alfvaen, also works for Moriarty.  Then they went into Yirma's a
bit later, with a kid by the name of Little Rat.  Yirma's wasn't too trashed,
but the others disappeared for a while, only to turn up later on the other
side of Low City.  Alfvaen, in particular made a spectacular entrance in the
office of Spelkort the Fence--came out of nowhere, to hear the tale.  Word is,
if you want Delmara, you go to Moriarty Investigations."

Nirvan cursed.  "I hate being laid up like this!  I should be out getting stuff
like this."  He sighed.  "Good work anyway, Hercli.  Maybe start spreading that
story around, with my name on it.  You get that all from one guy, or piece it
together."

"It's piecework, don't worry.  Out it goes, your byline.  Say, maybe you
should work for the Examiner."

Nirvan grinned.  "Too high-class for me.  Now go on, scram--go to Moriarty
Investigations and find Delmara, if that's where she is these days.  Maybe she
can bring some friends if she thinks they're useful.  The more the merrier, as
long as Verdigren and Moriarty don't both end up here."

Hercli dashed out the door, jerky in hand, refuelled and ready for another
mission.

"Those kids are good," Nirvan said.  "Just like I was at their age.  Make me
feel old."

--
---Alfvaen(Canadian SF Quasi-Activist)
"It's not my fault.  The orchestra has disappeared."
   ---Hector Berlioz
Current Album--Roxy Music:Avalon
Current Read--John Irving:The World According To Garp