Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Mon, 25 Jan 1993 22:11:16 -0500
Reply-To:     POTTER@ONRSVI.AGR.CA
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was VAMPYRES@GUVM
From:         POTTER@ONRSVI.AGR.CA
Subject:      New Batfluff 2 ~in this form~

Reader beware notice: a few epithets that you might hear on any gradeschool
grounds......

(c)J.Potter 1993.
Pter 2.
                         ....`in hoc forma vinces'....
                         (...in this form I conquer...)


        Like many other sentient beings, Otis did not enjoy a drastic
    change of routine when he arrived home after a hard night.  His
    preference was to arrive with a minimum of fanfare, quietly move to his
    favorite hang-out, and settle gently into a stupor for several hours.
    After that, he was prepared to be civil with anyone who disturbed him.
    Before that, he could be rather abrupt - damned abrupt!

        Thus, when he entered the colonial cave, the last thing he expected
    was to have a virtual three-ring circus break out around him.  If you
    have ever entered a room on your birthday and had a surprise party
    break out, you have the beginnings of an appreciation for what now
    occurred.  If you have entered a room when it was not your birthday and
    walked into a surprise party, that sensation is closer to what Otis now
    experienced.

        The rumour-mill had been working overtime, and every bat in the
    colony now knew for certain that he owed his happy home to the heroic
    Otis.  A massive bat-cheer, squeaky but sincere, broke out at Tledore's
    signal as he entered.  A mob-scene of brown bodies met him, engulfing
    him in a cacaphony of congratulations.

        Otis reacted.  "What the fuck is going on here?" he shrieked.  It
    was the first time any bat had heard Otis actually swear (if you
    discount the occasional 'hell' or 'damn').  The crowd, shocked and
    subdued by Otis' uncharacteristic outburst, quieted down rapidly.  This
    reaction by Otis was not in their plans.

        Wom broke the developing silence.  "We were just giving you the
    hero's welcome they say you deserve," he stated, "Although I'm
    beginning to wonder whether it was such a good idea!  What do you mean,
    'what's going on?'  You saved the colony from vampires and you don't
    know what's going on?"

        "Wait a minute," Otis said, "I saved the colony?  Did I miss
    something here?"

        "Well, did you or did you not fight off a pack of vampire
    marauders?"

        "Me?  Vampires?  Hell, no," Otis said, "I went out for a while to
    help a vampire cousin get his cousin straightened out a bit, but
    marauding vampires?  No way, Wom, what have you been chewing on?"

        "Told you," Wom announced triumphantly to no-one in particular,
    "Told you Otis wasn't any hero.  Told you there was a mistake, didn't
    I?  Huh?"

        "Wom, shut up!" Sab whispered, "You're making an idiot of yourself.
    Hush up and let Otis explain."

        "Okay, bats, listen here," Otis explained, "I was just helping a
    vampire who I met, nice guy too, helping him keep his cousin from
    turning into a biped vampyre, that's all.  I really didn't do anything
    much."

        "You're sayin' there was no killer vampires out there?" Tlement
    asked.

        "No killer vampires," Otis agreed.

        "No war party from up the bluff?" Hysmal and Holith challenged.

        "None that I know," Otis said.

        "You weren't leading a raid?" Akan queried him.

        "No raid - read my sonar - NO RAID" said Otis.

        "Dang it, then, why did you get us all worked up to have this
    welcoming party?" Tlement spluttered.

        "Danged if I know," Otis told him, "In fact, danged if I know
    anything at all about what's happening here.  I just went out last
    night with my friends from up the cliff, and tonight I flew over the
    village by myself, and I come back and the whole colony's gone batty.
    What's gotten into you bats?"

        "Well, I guess somebody's been spreading some gossip," Sab said,
    "And I for one am glad you bats have all found out what happens when
    you listen to rumours!"

        The crowd dispersed, muttering to themselves. "No killer
    bats.... no hero.... not true.... he never did.... so why did you tell
    me...." and similar babble.

        "Sab and Wom," Otis called quietly to his cousins, "I'd like to
    talk to you."

                                      ^w^


        "Guys," Otis told Sab and Wom, "I need your help.  In fact I need a
    lot of help".

        "If it's anything to do with you turning into a franklangella,
    Otis, count me out," Wom protested, "I don't want any more messin'
    around with bipeds who kill each other.  Even on tevee."

        "Hush, Wom," Sab said, "At least we can hear what Otis wants us
    for.  That's the least we can do to help.  We sure didn't do much to
    stop that little mob scene just now - and you knew as well as I did
    that Akan wasn't telling the truth.  What's the help you need, Otis?"

        "It's nothing that you'll get in any trouble over," Otis said, "I
    just need to have someone - a biped - watched."

        "Hey, now that's easy," Wom exclaimed, "Dead easy.  We can do that
    easy.  Right, Sab?"

        "Just a second," Otis interrupted, "It's not that easy, and it's
    going to take a lot more help.  You see, what I need is to find one
    particular biped, and I think she might only be seen on the street in
    the village for a little while before sunrise.  I need enough help to
    watch every street in the village for about an hour, and whoever spots
    her has to let me know where she goes."

        "Otis, that's not going to be easy," Sab complained, "There's a lot
    of streets in that village.  I remember..."

        "I remember too," Wom butted in, "It's not just the streets.  There
    are lots of back alleys in that place, so..."

        "So, I'm going to need as many watchers as I can get," Otis
    finished the statement. "I need as many of the colony as will go, and I
    need them soon.  Can I count on you two to help me ask them?"

        "Of course, Otis," Sab volunteered, "Wom and I will help.  Just
    describe who we're looking for.  We'll have a hundred or so by
    tonight."

        With the three of them chasing down volunteers, Otis had his
    reconnaisance force by the next night.  They selected cousins who were
    strong fliers, only those who were brave enough to cross the marsh
    where few browns had dared to go, and only those who would not be too
    distracted by conflicting factors, like thoughts of dinner.  This was
    no picnic flight.

        Otis explained the flight plans.  Too many bats arriving all at
    once or too early would rouse unnecessary interest from the bipeds.
    They would travel in small groups of three or four, and spread out over
    the village so every street was watched.  Otis decided to ask Akan and
    his twin Akro to join in leading the groups.  With Sab and Wom, that
    made four group leaders, leaving Otis free to oversee the entire plan.
    The village could be divided into quarters for easier searching.

        With the plan made, the watchers all gathered before midnight to
    begin the flight, and to get final details from Otis.

        "Okay," he told the group, "You'll be looking for a blonde tall
    female biped.  I don't know what she'll be wearing, and I don't know
    where she might show up.  She might have some blood on her face or she
    might not.  I'm just fairly sure she'll be on a street sometime in
    about the last hour before sunrise.  Any questions?"

        "Yeah, how do we know if the biped's a female?"  The question came
    from a young bat who had never been to the village - or seen a biped.

        "You're in my group, Hetic," Wom told him, "I'll explain on the
    way.  C'mon, Otis, let's get this flight in the air!"

        Otis sighed with relief, and obliged.  Thank Vespertilio he could
    at least count on his cousins in the clinch.  That, he thought, is the
    problem with volunteer labor.

                                      ^w^
                                End of Pter 2.
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