From: sandler@snow-white.ee.udel.edu (Sandman)
Subject: The Story parts 0/0-0/6 #1 #2 #3
Organization: Lab Rats
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 15:30:35 GMT


The story so far (please at least scan to bottom of file because of
a small problem):


It was close to sundown and although the sky was a bright shade of blue
with clouds hovering over the small farming community of Goverville, that I
have called my home for these past eight years, I knew that shortly the
sky would darken to the shades of red, orange and lavender of sunset and
then it would be night.  Night has always been thought of as evil, just
as dark has always been thought of as deceitful and bad.  Having always
enjoyed a walk under the stars and the cool night air along the stream that
fills the reservoir around which the town is built I always had trouble 
associating night with evil. After all most burglars do their work during
the day, most muggers do their work during the day; It was obvious to
me that the day was more evil than the night ever was.  Or at least that
is what I used to think.

*

Oh, how I remember those days of innocence, of often misspent youth.
Nevermore the trouble free wanderer traveling from town to town sampling the
best that each has to offer.  Were that I could once more grasp those days and
again sample the fine pleasures that once were so easily wrought.

When did it turn, when did my skies grey and dusk become the herald of
colder baser emotions.  Camillia, it was Camillia.  Oh, Camillia, I remember
the first time I saw you.  It was the town picnic down by the reservoir.

*

She was a woman of light complexion and dark, dark hair.  The combination
was amazing.  She looked like a picture of Eastern European royalty and
walked with such fluid grace that I caught myself just staring at the way
she moved, each step as graceful as a cat....or a wolf.

"Is there a problem mister?" She said with harsh tones. How did she get
up this close to me so fast.  She noticed that I was staring and I was
distracted by her movements.....

"I hope not miss.  I am sorry, it is just that your broach reminds me
of one my grandmother used to have; I seemed to have been caught in the
midst of nostalgia."  I knew it was a feeble reply but what could I
do.  I felt the blood rush to may face.  It was that blush, that symbol
of innocence, that child-like facial reaction that saved the moment; or
perhaps ended my life as I knew it.  She introduced herself has
Camillia and we talked for awhile. We had dinner together.  The
barbecue pig was good and so was the potato salad, or maybe it wasn't;
I was not in a position to notice, we just sat on the folding chairs 
and talked of the trees and the birds in the woods.  I was lost in
her eyes. Sunset came and then she was gone.

*

That night my mind was a tempest of thoughts. I couldn't stop thinking
about her, the way she moved, talked, and especially the perfection of her
smooth, pail calf when the wind had exposed it for but a moment by blowing
her dress aside. Mostly because of this, or maybe some other reason even
darker, I could not for the life of me get to sleep.

It was about midnight when I got up and went for a walk. Even though the sky
was slightly overcast the moon shown through in its full brilliance
giving it a strange ethereal quality. Some how everything had a strange glow
that night, especially the wolf.

She, don't ask me how I know it was a she I just do, was large with a
thick, magnificent, silver blue coat. Her movements were sleek and graceful.
She reminded me of Camillia, but at the time a T-bone steak and a pear
would have reminded me of Camillia. At that moment she looked at me.

*

Her eyes were full of intelligence, almost mocking me with their 
content.  Slowly, in almost a leisurely ghostly glide she began to approach.  

My body began to tremble with strong emotions, both fear and desire.
I was frozen, unable to move.  The unreality of it was almost more than I 
could bear.  Her eyes held me just as a trap holds a mouse.  

My ears picked up the sounds of travelers.  There merriment was 
obvious from the sound of their voices and laughter.        

Then suddenly the hold was broken, the eyes had been cruelly wrenched
from my gaze.  With a backward glance and a canine smile the wolf turned and
vanished into the woods and approaching fog.  

As she vanished, all energy left my body.  My knees weaken and in the 
ultimate betrayal, crumpled beneath me.  As I lay upon the leaves, shaken, my
breath frozen in my throat, my senses reeled and my vision slowly receded even
as the voices approached.

*

I awoke startled from a dream which I could not recall.  I was in my
bed.  Was all that I had "witnessed" the night before just a dream?  As I
got myself some cold cereal for breakfast I convinced myself that it was
the case.  My love and vivid imagination, both of whom had gotten me into
trouble before, simply had played a trick on me.  An amusing and vivid
ruse that happened sometime in between waking a sleeping when you normally
just stare at the ceiling but sometimes convince yourself that life is really
different than it is.

/***********************************************************/
/* ok here we need to come up with a single version of the */
/* next morning                                            */
/***********************************************************/

After a quick breakfast I decided to go down town and do some shopping,
maybe buy some flowers to give to her later on when we meet for lunch at the 
small cafe on central avenue. It couldn't hurt and the general store was
right next door and I needed to get some iodine
for a cut that I seemed to have incurred while I was sleeping. I must have done
a lot of tossing about.

The flower shop that I went too was a rather small, hole in the wall
sort of place that specialized in exotics. The owner, an elderly oriental,
(possibley Chinese I'm not real good with deducting ethnics) seemed to fit right
in.  I didn't even notice him when I first stepped in and started to look around.
Later, when he came over and asked what I was looking for, it was as though he
had stepped out of the woodwork. I told him that I wanted something that 
would impress anyone. He gave me a mixture containing, I think, Callalillys,
Irisis, and Devils Tongue. Just before I left he said "Evil some times
is good, and good sometimes is evil and one can't always be sure."

At the time I brushed of the comment, but somehow now I think that he may have
known simply by being around me even as I think that perhaps she did as well.

She smiled sweetly at me when I handed her the flowers, even though
I was almost ten minutes late. Strangely I had thought that I would get there
early, I wonder were the time goes?

/***********************************************************/
/* 0/6 #2                                                  */ 
/***********************************************************/
That afternoon, I contemplate her.  The dream comes to mind again and
again.  The wolf that came upon me--it was her.  That is how my mind sees her.
Could this be a warning?  I remember dreaming once long ago about Uncle Charles
coming over, without knowing that he was indeed coming.  But this was probably
a coincidence.  I have had no other bits of intuition in such a manner.

And why should I worry?  She's a beautiful woman.  There is nothing to
suggest that there is anything wrong about her other than a dream.  Am I going
to fear her because of a dream?  I reach for the phone, ready to dial her
number.  But I don't know her number!

I step out for a walk.  The sun's still up.  I need the fresh air.

/***********************************************************/
/* 0/6 #3                                                  */ 
/***********************************************************/
        
Still musing over the nights events, I began planing the various
project for today as I dressed.  As I began lacing up my boots, a chill 
slide up my spine.  There caught in the binding was small leaf.  Had my 
travel through the forest been a dream?  I was no longer so sure.

Shaking the feeling out of my mind as being foolish, I completed 
dressing and walked over to the local grocery/hardware store, Mimm's General
store, for the days supplies.  
        
I felt like I still dwelt within a fog.  I could barely return the
greetings of old man Connors and Doc Jenkins as I entered the store.
**************************


So who want to pick up the next one off one of the threads


PS I have done a few edits the story above if you people want to
save this as a "good-copy"
Newsgroups: alt.horror.werewolves