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1996-01-29
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Path: usenet.ee.pdx.edu!cs.uoregon.edu!reuter.cse.ogi.edu!qiclab.scn.rain.com!psgrain!usenet.eel.ufl.edu!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!not-for-mail
From: alansz@mellers1.psych.berkeley.edu (Alan Schwartz)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives
Subject: STORY: Riverworld, Chapter 15: Leavetakings?
Followup-To: rec.games.frp.misc
Date: 26 Jan 1996 14:13:49 -0500
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Riverworld Turn #15: Leavetakings?
Day 33
* * * *
After dinner, Shaw returned to his boat and checked it over.
Josephine, pacing restless by the River, found him there, and the two
began an lively discussion about the Roaring '20's. The others heard
snippets of conversation from time to time.
Josephine: "...Those were the days. I was a dancer then, and an
actress. I loved to make people smile, ever since I was a
child..."
Shaw: "...I served as a pilot, flying planes and sailing boats..."
Josephine: "That's fascinating..."
Shaw: "Do you have memories of your first days here on the River? Or
are yours lost as well?"
Josephine: "Lost, but probably no loss. I can guess what happened."
Josephine wrinkled her nose.
Josephine: "But let me tell you about when I was staying with the
Prince of Monaco..."
Jeanne, meanwhile, sought out Freud. With a deprecating smile, she
addressed him in French.
Jeanne: "I confess, sir, that I do know you, though it seemed that many of our
band recognized your name when you spoke it."
She indicated a number of the 20th century resurrectees.
Jeanne: "Would you tell me of yourself? I am true to my word that I
will accept any as my travelling companion, though I confess
curiosity as to your desire to do so. You wish also to go on
a holy quest?"
Freud: "Not for myself, my dear lady, but to see how you fare on your
quest."
Jeanne: "Why are you so interested in my quest?"
Freud: "In my time, I was a doctor, a doctor who studied the human
mind, to learn how it works. I believe that there is a deeper
part of the mind that people do not experience, but that is
the source of much of our inspirations, our fears, perhaps
even our connection with the divine. Your desire to quest for
the holy fits well with my searching for the source of the
mind's connection to things of the spirit."
Jeanne nodded pensively.
Charles, too, strode to the River and looked up and down its length in
the dying sun, thoughfully.
As night drew down upon the group, they slept by the grailstone. Shaka
and Jeanne stood the first watch, uneventful hours with each seemingly
lost in thought about the morrow. Shaw and Charles spent their watch
in conversation about Northern Africa; Tjar and Florence discussed how
a new civilization might be built on the River.
The morning brought surprises, however, and two different sorts of
unpleasantness.
Upon awakening, Charles announced his plans to organize groups to
build shelters and scout the area. First, however, he turned to Jeanne
and Freud and offered them spears and some of his breakfast to aid
them on their journey. He was stopped by Shaka, who used the metal
scythe to draw a line in the dirt between himself and Jeanne. Pointing
first to Freud, and then to his side of the line, Shaka made his
intentions clear. Freud spoke entreatingly.
Freud: "It's obvious that he doesn't want me to go for some reason,
and doesn't intend to let me. Much as I would love to journey
with Jeanne, I am not ready to face death again quite yet."
Freud looked helplessly at Jeanne and Charles. Jeanne glowered at
Shaka angrily. The tension was only heightened when Tjar lept up and
spoke excitedly, waving his hands around.
Tjar: "Wait, what's happened to Cleopatra and Glenn? They wandered off
hours ago, and I haven't heard or seen them since."