From: keulen@possum.csu.murdoch.edu.au (Mike van Keulen)
Subject: A soggy halloween #2
Organization: Murdoch University
Date:  6 Nov 92 12:21:39 GMT

The continuation of Splash's exploration of a small part of the house ...

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Getting quite frantic as he senses the beast approach him in the stair
well, Splash suddenly feels a bump on his brass helmet.  Twisting his head
up within the helmet he finds that the next level of the stairs is
impeding his progress.  Flailing his hands over his head he manages to
push himself up and along the angle of the stairs.  A dull red glow in the
surrounding water indicates the proximity of the aquatic animal behind
him, and he flails his arms even more frantically. 

All of a sudden Splash feels nothing above him, and feels his suit expand
slightly as he rises rapidly.  A mighty whack on his helmet signals the
end of his ascent as he bumps into the underside of the next flight of
stairs.  "Too many more of those sort of knocks and the monster can save
some effort," Splash mutters, shaking his head.  Flailing his arms again,
he moves himself slowly up the next flight.  The rapid rise over the last
landing appears to have left the ghostly monster behind a little, probably
puzzling as to what happened to his evening snack.  All too soon however
the dull red glow of its eyes approaches again. 

Just as he feels he's about to become Monster Meat (TM), Splash soars up
over another landing, leaving the red glow well behind.  This time Splash
has figured out what's happening, and holds his arms up to ward off the
blow before the glass portals in his helmet get damaged.  By now Splash
has figured out that he can walk quite quickly along the underside of the
stairs using his arms, and proceeds quickly up the next flight. 

Another two flights of stairs pass, and then a complete stop.  Feeling
around with his outstretched arms, Splash can only feel a solid ceiling. 
"_Now_ where am I?" he exclaims with exasperation.  Looking down he can
faintly make out the two red spots which mark the head of the monster. 
"Quick - quick!  I don't have much time!" he mutters anxiously, heart
pounding from the exertion and fright. 

His searching fingers suddenly grasp a handle of sorts; turning it he
feels the ceiling loosen and rise.  The positive buoyancy of his suit
pushes up against the trap-door, opening it.  He slips through it, letting
the door fall again as he continues to rise.  This time the rise continues
for a considerable distance, and Splash fumbles at the controls to reduce
his meteoric ascent.  Checking his gauges he breathes a sigh of relief as
he reads 5m depth, and falling fast.  In a couple of seconds his helmet
breaks the surface, and while the water streams off, he notes a cluster of
flickering lights 10-20 metres away. 

Splashing his way in their direction Splash runs aground on the shallow
shores of what appears to be a pond behind the ancient house.  Hauling his
way through the weeds and up the bank he looks behind him, and finding no
red glow, breathes a big sigh of relief.  "Whew!  It looks like that
beastie couldn't make it through that last trap-door." Sagging back
against a bunch of reeds with exhaustion he mutters "Gawd, that was
close!" Resting for a few moments he relaxes his breathing to only twice
its normal pace, and staggers to his feet.  "Oof!  What an effort.  That's
about as much exercise as I get in a month.  Talk about holidays.  I need
another one to recover from this one!" Walking tiredly towards the house
he spies the others through the kitchen window and makes his way towards
the big wooden door.  Grasping the heavy iron handle he twists it and
pulls the door open.  As he staggers through the opening into the bright
flickering warmth Splash is accosted by screams and yells of terror. 
Pegasus and Phoenix both stand there with swords drawn, and Jason is
wielding his axe in a decidedly menacing manner.  Liralen has grabbed a
brand from the blazing fire and holds it out in his direction.  The other
folks in the room are in an assortment of defensive positions, or backing
off rapidly. 

Puzzled, Splash twists around to look behind him, then realizes his
previously clean diving suit is now covered in slime, weeds and mud. 
Reaching for his helmet locks he undoes the clips and pulls the heavy
helmet off.  The crowd in the kitchen looks confused and then relieved as
they see the tousled sweaty head of Splash revealed.  "Oops, sorry guys! 
Ummm ... can you put down your weapons now?  Please?  By the way, is
supper ready yet?"

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***************************** Michael van Keulen *************************** 
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