Ancient Of Days on :
I've gone over and over the first appearance of the girl, and I have been unable as of yet to identify the "clue".
Monday, August 8. 2005Macon Craig
I was almost tempted to go check her campsite without him. I knew the forest environment so well that I was sure I could get there and be back by the time Night_Watcher finished choosing a body. Once I got into the environment, though, all temptations to go anywhere without him disappeared. Every noise, the rustle of leaves in the wind, the sound of moving animals, even the far-off roar of the waterfall seemed hostile. I stood there, waiting for him, trying not to jump at every unexpected noise.
He appeared as an indistinct shimmer that gradually solidified into his customary body. He gave me a weak half grin, and we walked into the trees, glad of each other's companionship, but unwilling to create discomfort by mentioning it. It didn't take us long to reach the clearing. I stood at the edge of the clearing and breathed a sigh of relief. A faint scattering of ashes testified that my story, while improbable, was true. Night_Watcher stared down at them, unspeaking. Sinking down on his haunches, he sifted the ashes between his fingers, allowing them to drift on the wind. He looked over his shoulder at me. Several times, it looked like he was going to speak, but he never managed to say anything. Finally, he turned his gaze back to the ashes. I jumped when he stood up quickly and began circling the ashes with rapid, jerky steps. Without looking up, he began to speak. "You're sure that you didn't build this fire? I mean, could you have built it while you were sleepwalking or something?" "I guess it's possible. I doubt it, but it's possible." "I just don't see how anybody could get in. She'd have to have an implant. That's pretty unlikely since Brain_Stem and I are the only ones who have the schematics for them, and, as far as I know, I'm the only one who's ever built one. But supposing she got one somehow. That wouldn't be the end of it. She'd still have to know how to find the server, and she'd have to find out the password, and . . . " He trailed off, and stood looking at me. "There's no way. There's just no way."
"I know it doesn't make any sense, but there was something here. I know it. I didn't just knock myself out. Something hit me, and it hit me hard enough that Brain_Stem had to call me probably a hundred times before I woke up. I don't sleep that deep." He looked at me, glanced back at the ashes, and looked back at me. "Do you have logs for that night? Something that would tell us who was using this level?" He shot me a look of stunned surprise. "Umm, yeah. Why didn't I think of that? Let's go check the logs." Both of us were happy to get out of the environment; we shimmered out of existence moments after he suggested it. Trackbacks
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Ancient Of Days on :
I've gone over and over the first appearance of the girl, and I have been unable as of yet to identify the "clue".
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