Naga slowly came back to full awareness of her surroundings, the voices of
ancients receding into the depths.  Looking about her, she saw Actinaea
supporting a disconcerted Getehl and healing his numerous wounds.

"Naga," she started to say, trailing off as the White Serpent rising up
from her crouched position.  Through the dim flickering light she saw Naga
clench her fists tightly.

"We are going to find that Bell, Praetor," Naga said in a low voice.
"And when we do, Torr will be there.  I'm going to make him pay."  She
stood, staring out into the emptiness.

"Naga?"

Silence.

"Naga?" Actinaea ventured again, suddenly coughing.  Glancing behind her,
Actinaea found the stacks of old papers and manuscripts slowly smouldering,
the flames beginning to spread throughout the shelves.

The cough returned Naga's focus to the cave.  Bending down, she gently
scooped Mari's prone figure into her arms.  Naga turned to Actinaea, an
undecipherable look on her face.  "What is it, Praetor?"

Standing up, Actinaea made sure Getehl was stable on his feet before
answering.  The smoke was beginning to fill the large chamber.  "Shouldn't 
we do something about these flames?"

Naga carefully looked over the burning religious texts, the object of their
current search.  Slowly readjusting her cradle on Mari, she stepped over
toward the cliff face they had arrived from.  "No," Naga replied, before 
taking a step forward and plunging down into the dark depths of the cavern 
below.

- = - 

Improfanfic presents...

                           Slayers Glorious!
            Chapter 10:  Chase!  Repercussions of a Showdown!

                        Written by Ravi Duvvuri
                         Started by Todd Harper

- = - 

Actinaea and Getehl sat at a table in a corner of the tavern.  Getehl
sipped slowly from the mug in front of him, letting the warm bitter liquid
slide its way down his throat.  He experimentally moved his left arm,
and was immediately sorry that he had done so.

Thankfully, the tavern was largely empty.  Most of the regulars had already
gone to bed by the time they'd arrived, and there was something about the 
image of two combat-wearied travelers that convinced the rest to do so, as 
well.  He wasn't sure he'd be able to deal with too many people around at a
time like this.

Both Getehl and Actinaea looked up as they heard footsteps coming down the
stairs.

"How is she?" they asked in unison.

Naga favored them with a tight smile, as though considering some unshared
joke.  "She's sleeping.  She'll be okay."

Getehl nodded, exhaling a slow breath of relief.  "That's good.  She didn't
look so good, up-"

"I can't believe it!" Actinaea interrupted.  "How could she have betrayed 
us?" she demanded, suddenly slamming her fists down on the table top.  Her
own cup fell over on its side, the contents dribbling out unnoticed.

Naga shook her head slowly.  "I don't know.  Worrying about it now isn't
going to accomplish anything.  We'll find out tomorrow morning.  For now, we 
all just need to get some sleep.  Let's call it a night."  

Making a large display of yawning, Naga turned and returned upstairs.
Actinaea just stared at Naga's retreating back for a minute before muttering
under her breath and following her.

Getehl stood up, pushing his chair back with his legs.  Stretching
expansively, he was about to head upstairs to let blissful sleep claim him 
when he remembered one critical thing.

"Damn.  They forgot to get me a room again."

- = - 

The sound of a cock crowing and the warmth of sunlight gradually teased
Naga to wakefulness.  Mumbling softly, she languorously tugged her blanket 
further up her shoulder and rolled over to her side.  Something was tickling 
at the back of her head, something she was trying to remember.

Mariposa.

Rolling out of the bed, she stood up quickly.  Blinking a few times to chase 
the grogginess from her eyes, she took in the room.  She'd put Mari to
sleep in the bed, later joining her, but she was no where to be found.  
Actinaea was still sleeping on a mattress on the floor.

Everything else seemed to be in place, so Naga decided Mari had probably
just stepped out to grab breakfast.  With a yawn, she dressed herself in her 
regular traveling garb.

Opening the door, she stepped over Getehl, who had taken it upon himself to
sleep on the floor again.  Why he hadn't just slept in his own room, Naga
didn't understand.  He'd probably taken it upon himself to stand guard, she
decided with a smile.

Making her way downstairs, she searched over the growing crowd of people,
trying to locate Mari.  She was unsuccessful.  Had Mari gone off to freshen
up at the bath house?

"Hey you!" she heard a voice call out.  "Are you Naga?"  Looking in the 
direction of the shout, Naga found the innkeeper waving her over.  Weaving 
her way around the tables, she made her way over to the counter.  

The man's eyes grew wide at her approach.  He had obviously not been
expecting someone wearing the outfit that Naga was attired in.  "Umm," he 
said, his eyes not quite meeting Naga's.

"Oh-hohoho!" she chuckled, amused by the sheer simplicity of the male mind.
"Now, now, what is it you wanted to say to the White Serpent?"

Not looking up from her cleavage, the man pulled a wrinkled piece of
parchment from his pocket and held it out in front of him.

Curious, Naga took the paper and unfolded it.  Her hands began trembling
slightly as she scanned the contents.  Sitting down on a stool, she reread 
the note.

"Are you okay?" the innkeeper asked, not quite leering still, and actually
managing to look concerned at the troubled expression on Naga's face.

Naga stood up, balling the paper in her hand and clenching it in her fist.  
"If my friends ask, tell them I will return shortly."  And with a flourished
sweep of her cape, she strode out the door.

- = - 

Actinaea woke from a fitful sleep peppered with dreams of ghostly black 
wolves.  Sitting upright, she gasped in shock.  She pressed her hand to 
her chest to calm herself.

"You okay?" came a concerned male voice from off to her left.

Actinaea turned to glare at Getehl, who was sitting at the table.  He
looked as though he'd just woken up as well.

"What are you doing in here?" she snapped at him, drawing her blanket
closer to her.

Getehl shrugged and stood up.  "I just got up... Couldn't find Naga or Mari
around.  Thought you might know where they were."  He lazily lowered his 
head and began massaging the back of his neck.

"Well, I don't know.  Now would you mind leaving so I can make myself
decent?

Getehl nodded, turning toward the door.  "Sure thing, Ace."

"Don't call me that," Actinaea told him, stopping him in his tracks.  "I 
know what you're doing."

"What do you mean?" Getehl asked, a look of honest confusion on his face.  
"You mean calling you 'Ace'?  That was just a slip of the tongue."

"You are mocking me.  I don't appreciate that."  She stood up, glaring at
him.  Apparently oblivious to the fact that she was still wearing just her 
slip, or perhaps riled to the point of not caring, she continued.  "It's
not like it's anything new or clever.  I may not be hugely endowed, and
I may not be the best sorceress around, but I work hard and diligently,
and I will not stand to be put down like this.  Do you understand?"

Getehl opened his mouth as if to reply, then closed it.  He stood silent
for a moment while he decided what he wanted to say.  

"Look, I didn't mean it as a put-down, and if you don't see that, I don't
know what I can do to change your mind," he explained.  He walked over to
the door and opened it.  Turning back, he addressed her over his shoulder.
"I'm going to go get breakfast.  Come down when you're ready, and we'll
forget this whole thing happened."  He stepped outside and closed the door.  
Falling back against it, he sighed loudly.

"Women."

- = - 

Out in the streets of Alamin, Naga made her way through the already-thick
crowd of people.  Casting her gaze about desperately, she searched for
anything familiar -- blond hair, a sorcerer's robes, anything.

More than once she was tempted to take to the air with Levitation to further 
the search, but she knew the panic that would cause in the crowded market 
would only make things worse.

Catching a flash of red -- Mari's new scarf? -- Naga rushed east, shoving
her way through the group of people waiting in line to buy fresh produce.

"Watch it, you tramp!" an old man cursed her as she bowled him over.

Scowling, Naga stopped and scooped up the man's spilt apples.  Standing up,
she thrust the bag into his hands and ran off, hoping she hadn't fallen too
far behind.  Half-consciously, her lips mimed the words written on the ball 
of paper tightly wadded up in her pouch.

"Naga-sama, 
I can't stand the shame of what I've done.
Please forgive me for betraying you.  
Please.    -- Mariposa"

She just hoped she could find Mari before she did something rash.

- = - 

Getehl sat in the inn's dining area, waiting for Actinaea to make her 
appearance.  After questioning the innkeeper as to the whereabouts of Naga 
and Mari, he'd learned that the "cute kid and the leather lady" had left 
earlier that morning, but that the lady had said they would be returning 
later.  Picking at the plate of eggs in front of him, Getehl whistled softly 
to himself.

The familiar cadence of footsteps behind him told him that Actinaea had
finally arrived.  Putting down his fork, he pushed the plate away from him.

"Naga and Mari went out earlier.  They should be back soon," he informed
her.

Without saying anything, Actinaea sat and pulled a mug of coffee toward
her.  They remained sitting in silence until Actinaea took the final sip
and set the mug before her.  Looking Getehl in the eyes, she sighed.

"I was out of line this morning.  I shouldn't have snapped at you."

Raising an eyebrow, Getehl answered her.  "I thought we agreed we'd forget
it ever happened."  

She smiled weakly.  "That we did."  

Getehl smiled warmly and stood.  "Well, shall we?"

"Shall we what?" she asked, blinking.  

He gestured toward the entrance.  "Hit the town, see the sights.  Maybe
catch up with Naga and Mari?"

Actinaea slowly nodded and rose, tossing a coin down next to her mug.  "I
should track down my student.  To make sure Naga isn't corrupting her in
her studies, of course."

"Right."  

The two left the inn, immediately swallowed up by the unusually large
throng of people mulling about on the streets.  In an effort to keep from
getting lost, Getehl reached out and grabbed hold of Actinaea's arm, an act
that earned him a slap and a glare.

She was about to tear into him verbally when a short man jostled her,
sending her tumbling to the ground.  Without a word, the man just pushed by
her, melting into the crowd.

"Why you rude little--" she shouted after the man.  Actinaea suddenly
stiffened and paused, reaching for her belt.  "Why that... Getehl!  After that
thief!"

Getehl spun around, catching a glimpse of the thief as he disappeared
around the corner.  Turning to Actinaea, he raised an eyebrow.  "Him?"

"Yes, you idiot!  Him!" Actinaea shrieked.  "Chase after him!"

"Why didn't you just fry him with a spell?" Getehl asked, reaching his arm 
down to help her up.  "That would've been easier, right?

"Th- th- that's none of your business!  There's a very good reason why I 
didn't.  Now are you going help or not?"  she yelled as she pulled her arm
away.

Getehl shrugged and grabbed Actinaea by the wrist.   He ignored her
shouting as he took off running after the thief, dragging her along for the 
ride.

Above the street, from a dark second-story window, a pair of eyes watched 
the pair make their way down the street.

"Eh-HEEHEEHEE!" a raspy voice chuckled.  "At last, vengeance will be mine!"

- = - 

Torr slowly lowered himself to the mattress, allowing himself to wince as
he did so.  Every single inch of his body ached and was covered in either 
cuts or burns, and he was convinced he'd broken a finger.  He gingerly 
flexed his arms, hoping to fight off the inevitable stiffness.

A familiar tingling started up in the back of his mind.  Wearily, he
reached for a pouch at his waist.  Fumbling a bit with the tie, he
eventually drew forth his crystal ball.

The ball flared brightly and then settled into a low, dull pulsing.
A faint voice resonated from the crystal; the distance was too far to
maintain the accompanying Vision spell.  "Torr, why haven't you been--"

"Why, Erika?" Torr interrupted.  "Why didn't you tell me it was the girl?"

"Just Erika, now?" Erika replied, ignoring his question.  "I'd think you
owe me at least a little respect."

"I owe you nothing.  You, however, owe me many things.  The least of which
is an explanation."

Erika sighed.  "Never send a pedophile to do a man's job, I see.  Am I to 
take it you failed?"

"Don't give me that, Erika," Torr warned.  "Things did not go as planned.  
Mariposa played her hand too early, and..."

"Yes, I figured that would be the case," Erika broke in.  "She is not
expendable, but this was a necessary gambit."

"Why involve her?" Torr asked, a hard edge in his voice.  "If she is
somehow vital to your grand scheme, why put her at risk?"

"She was never _at_ risk.  She is... protected," Erika explained.

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't see it?  She's one of us."

"One of us?  You can't be serious."

Erika chuckled in her usual infuriating manner.  "Oh, yes... she is.  One
of the rare ones who do not share our normal... distinguishing features.  
Apparently her parents saw fit to raise her without knowledge of her 
heritage.  This is why they fled to Singe.  They were weak."

"Were?" Torr questioned.

"They are... atoning for their mistakes."

"You are truly reprehensible, Erika.  I just want you to know that."

"I do this only for our people, Torr Wingwhit," Erika stated tersely.
"We bear a great responsibility, one that has been passed down for 
generations.  I can't just let it go, and I can't choose to simply overlook 
something like this."

Torr laughed bitterly.  "You're going to try to convince me that you have
only the communal well-being at mind?  Thank you, Erika.  I needed a good
chuckle."  He paused a moment, and the continued, a hint of warning in his
voice.  "You can't keep your hold over everyone, remember.  As is, I will 
soon be beyond your reach."

"Don't be too certain of that.  After the Guildmaster's conference wraps up
in two days, I shall be departing for Saillune."

Torr gasped involuntarily.  "Saillune?  Surely you don't mean to... You
can't... Already?" Torr asked, confused. 

"No, I just need to set some things in motion.  Our Lady of the Sea has
certain requirements we need to fulfill for her continued support."

"Sometimes, Erika, I wonder if it is you who is playing the game, or the 
game that plays you."

"My, my... such... platitudes become you, Torr.  Do you have any other
cliches you would like to share with me?  I really should be going."

"Before you go, there is one more thing.  Naga cast a 'Megido Arc'. 
Something that you neglected to let me know of before."

A moment of silence passed before Erika responded.  "Well, well, well... 
I wonder what other surprises our little princess is going to pull out of
her hat.

"That is all, Torr.  You know what to do, even if you disagree with my
decision to involve Miss Fehlmeier.  Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go 
and aggravate the tensions between the contingency from Dils and the newly
arrived Guild representative from Zefilia."

Torr sighed loudly.  "Very well."  He slowly exhaled as the mental
connection dissolved.  Staring at the sphere in his hand, he clenched his
hand tighter, increasing the pressure until the bauble collapsed in a
shower of fine dust.

Unmoving, he sat staring at the numerous fresh cuts in his hand, slowly
nodding off to sleep.

- = -

"Where is he now?!" Actinaea swore as they lost sight of their target
again.  The bazaar was not helping things, with so many people for the
thief to hide among.

"I don't know... wait!  There he is!"  Getehl pointed to the shady figure
further down the street.  Still holding onto Actinaea's wrist, he pushed
forward, trying to force their way through the crowd.  "We're going to lose
him like this..."

Actinaea pulled her arm away from Getehl and grabbed hold of his wrist.  
"Then maybe I can be of assistance," she said, stepping close to him.

Getehl gulped nervously.  "Umm... Actinaea-san?  What are you--"

"Ray WING!" Actinaea cast, knocking over the people nearest the two of them
as they rose into the air.  Getehl yelped and grabbed onto Actinaea as they
zoomed down the main thoroughfare, a good twenty feet above the crowds of 
people.

Muttering under her breath, Actinaea scanned ahead to try to find the
culprit.  Catching sight of the short felon ducking into a side street, 
Actinaea gave off a short cheer of victory.  Dropping Getehl unceremoniously 
at the end, she flew over the top of the crook, trapping him between them.

The man looked at Actinaea, then at Getehl, who was getting back to his
feet and rubbing his head.  He turned back to face Actinaea.  "I'm guessing 
this is going to hurt," the thief stated sadly.

Actinaea grinned cruelly as she nodded at the hapless thief.

"Mono.  Volt."

- = -

Naga finally found Mari in a tavern on the other side of town.  She'd
bundled herself up in a robe and had tied the silk scarf she'd been given
as a present around her head.  As Naga watched, Mari wiped the occasional
tear with the corner of the scarf.

"You know you're going to ruin that if you keep at that, Mari-chan," Naga
announced, stepping up behind the young girl and clapping her hand to her
back.  "Silk is such a delicate fabric."

Mari stopped sobbing long enough to register Naga's presence.  Unmoving,
she remained staring at her, unsure what to do.

Naga smiled and reached forward to sniff at the glass that Mari had sitting
before her.  Satisfied by the lack of alcohol, she leaned back on her stool
and turned to face Mari.

"You want to talk about it, Mari-chan?" she asked gently.

Mari nodded slowly.  She sniffled and wiped the last tears from her eyes.  
"My real reason for coming along on this trip wasn't to help you find the
Silent Bell.  I'm... just a traitor.  I betrayed all of you."

Naga remained silent, unsure how to respond.

"When we met on Singe?  It wasn't an accident.  I was supposed to make sure 
you accepted the offer to look for the Bell, by playing on your ego and
claiming to be your fan."

Naga nodded slowly, wincing inwardly.  She should have known it was too
good to have been true; the only person who'd looked up to her _would_ 
naturally turn out to have been paid to do so.  "So why'd you do it?" she
asked, perhaps too hard of an edge in her voice.

Mari winced, and hung her head in resignation.  "My family."

"Your family?"

Mari answered her with a sigh.  Taking a sip from her glass, she gulped
loudly.  "My family moved to Singe when I was very young, before I can even
remember.  It was my mother and my father and me.  We all lived out on the
edge of town.  When I was six, my parents started sending me to school.  I
was the only kid on the block who went, so everyone picked on me.  I wanted
to stop, but Daddy always said I needed to learn to read and write, because
I had to become a sorceress."

Naga nodded, reaching for her own drink.  "And then the Guild was built?"

"I'd already been taking some private lessons from an old mage on the
island," Mari continued.  "But yeah, the Guild was announced, and my
parents made sure I was the first student signed up.  They're really
supportive of me, you know?  So I was studying really hard, so I wouldn't 
disappoint them.

"But then, I came home one day, and they were gone.  I looked everywhere
for them, but no one knew anything.  A week later, I was coming back from
looking for them, and Lady Erika was waiting for me.  At first I thought
she might be my aunt or something, because she looked a lot like my mother,
but she just told me we were very distantly related at best.  She said that 
she was really powerful in the Mage's Guild, and that she knew where my 
parents were."

Naga furrowed her brow, searching her mind for mention of an Erika anywhere
in he memory.  Not remembering, she cursed herself for not paying more
attention to Guild affairs.  "And did she?"

"I found out later that that was her way of saying she was holding them, to
make me work for her.  She's like that, you know?  Never says anything
bluntly, unless she's really mad.

"Anyway, she told me that you would be coming to Singe soon, and that I was
supposed to make sure you would help us find the bell.  I think she also
made Master Rhaen send me along.  I was supposed to report our status to
her, with a magic crystal she gave me."

"So you knew Torr was going to attack us?" Naga asked, narrowing her eyes.

Mariposa shook her head.  "Not a clue.  I have no idea who he is.  Maybe
he's Lady Erika's brother?"

Naga considered that.  "I don't think so.  I've heard of him before... It
would be really hard for a Guild leader to keep it quiet that she was
related to an assassin of his notoriety."

"But I didn't know she wanted me to attack you!" Mari suddenly sobbed,
knocking her glass to the floor.  "I didn't want to hurt you, honest!  But
she said... my parents... if..."  Mari broke down, unable to continue.
Wracked with tears, she threw herself at Naga, hugging her tightly and
bawling into her chest.

Naga lowered her arms and warmly embraced the shuddering girl, patting her
slowly on the back.  She waited for the sobs to slow before she spoke.
"You're forgiven, Mari-chan.  Was there any doubt you would be?  You... 
You are very dear to us, all of us.  Even Actinaea.  And I for one will not
have you running off like this again.  We'll play this out, and we'll make
sure we get your parents back safe, okay?"

"Thank you, Naga-sama.  Just... thank you," Mari said, her words muffled.
She stopped shaking and released her constrictor grip on Naga.  "You know,
you're just like a big sister to me.  I wish you would have been around 
when I was growing up.  You don't mind me saying that, do you?"

"No," Naga chuckled nervously, "Not at all."  She paused for a moment, a
wistful look flashing briefly in her eyes.  "Big sister?  I think I can live
with that."

- = - 

Stepping over the unconscious form of her assailant, Actinaea rifled through
his pockets, eventually finding what she was looking for.  Looking around
nervously, she quickly jammed it item into her pouch.

"Um... if you don't mind me asking, what was that?"  Getehl asked.

Actinaea studied him carefully before slowly nodding.  She looked around, to 
make sure no one else was in the area.  Satisfied, she reached into her 
pouch, pulling out a closed fist.  Slowly, she opened up her hand, revealing 
it to him.

"It's awfully... cute," he said, blinking and staring intently at the item 
in Actinaea's hand.  "I... would not have expected you to have one of 
those."

"You tell anyone, and you are a dead man, Getehl," Actinaea warned.  "Do
you understand that?"

"Yes, Miss Actinaea!" he barked, straightening to attention.

Her smile softened and she placed a gloved hand on his shoulder.  "It's all
right, Getehl.  You can call me Ace."

Getehl grinned.  "You might just live to regret that, you know."

Actinaea responded with one of her own.  "Perhaps, but _you_ wouldn't."

Getehl came to a stop, gesturing to a pair of people standing across the
plaza.  "Isn't that Naga-san and Mari-chan?"

Squinting her eyes, Actinaea looked at the distant duo.  "Why, yes, it is."
Waving her hands over her heard, she grabbed Getehl by the arm and started
dragging him behind her.

"What have you two kids been up to?" Naga asked as they got closer.

Actinaea actually shrugged before answering, "Nothing much.  And you?"

"Nothing of note.   Do you want to get going?" the White Serpent asked.

"Sure.  We'll just need to grab our supplies first."

The foursome returned to their inn, carefully avoiding mentioning the 
exploits of the day.  After first stopping upstairs to collect their travel 
gear, they paid for their rooms.  Stepping back out into the street, the 
four checked the position of the sun and began their way south out of town.

From the top of the bank, the tallest building in the town, the old Captain
watched the party approach his vantage point.  High on a wave of impending
victory, he joyfully put away his telescope and turned back to face his
secret weapon.

Before him was a complex device, an array of mirrors and crystals with a
large lens at the end of a long tube.  He gleefully turned a handcrank
which rotated the whole apparatus to face the road below.

The captain fought off the urge to cackle.  The whole setup had cost him a
pretty penny, but this way he was sure to eliminate his enemies once and
for all.  

"And now, White Serpent," he chuckled, positioning his finger over the
release button, "You DIE!"  He depressed the button, and waited for the
ray to discharge.  Just half an instant to late he remembered the
Kaalmartian merchant's warning not to leave it charging for more than an
hour.

A loud explosion echoed throughout the streets, sending debris (and the
Captain) flying.

"Did you hear something?" Getehl asked, pausing in midstep.

"I didn't.  Did you?"

Naga shook her head.  "You must have been hearing things, Getehl!" She 
pointed down the road emphatically, letting her cloak flap dramatically in 
the wind.   "Elmekia awaits us.  Let's go!"

From behind them, the charred and smoking figure of the old sea captain
shook his fist in anger.  "Curse you, White Serpent!  I will get my revenge!"

FIN (chapter 10)

- = - 

AUTHOR'S NOTES:
[Or, In Which Ravi Makes A Most Humble Apology, And A Plea For The Future]

Improfanfic is quickly becoming a very ugly place.

I hate to say it, but it is true.  At least at times.

The original version of Slayers Glorious chapter 10 was pulled, yes.  I'm
not going to say it should not have been, and those who know me know that I
am very strongly against the pulling of chapters.  I have explained my 
opinions on the matter on chat and in email to Matt, which I hope should be 
sufficient.

What I'm complaining about is the failure of due process.  Something we are
all guilty of in this case, and for that I want to apologize.  The chapter 
came in, and reactions were poor.  The first thing anyone should have done 
is email Matt.  Which we didn't.  Instead, we starting ranting and flaming, 
calling for it to be pulled immediately, without even thinking to contact 
him or to bring it up with him. 

I understand the desire for higher-quality stories at Improfanfic, and the
truth of the matter is that Glorious is the most consistently well-written
of the stories running -- my own contributions notwithstanding, of course. :P 
But we have to remember that not everything can be perfect, and that
sometimes things will be written that won't be great.  That doesn't mean we
have to immediately call for things to be pulled, without letting the
author know something was wrong.  

We've moved into an era where good writers like Matt Campbell and Woofer
are afraid to sign up for stories, because they feel they will be flamed or
automatically pulled.  A time when certain authors are blacklisted from 
signing up for stories because of poor plot decisions.  When newbies are
frightened off, for fear they will muck up storylines.

This is not good.  Really.  

Impro is a wonderful community, one that I'm proud to be a part of, to have 
watched grow.  But we can't let ourselves fall prey to the things that have
destroyed other groups.  I can only ask that in the future, you pause a
moment and remember that we all had to start somewhere and that we all have
our bad days.

Anyway... away from the soapbox.

Thanks to Todd Harper and John Evans for proofreading, and Ardweden for
massive support during the writing of this chapter.  They tried their best
to make it readable, which I hope it is.

Good luck to the next author, and hopefully we can move on to some more
comedic fare.  ^_^

What's in Ravi's CD Changer:
Brother Cane - "Seeds"
Information Society - "Don't Be Afraid"
Kiroro -- "Kiroro no Mori"
Son Volt - "Wide Swing Tremolo"
Toad the Wet Sprocket - "P.S."

-r