-- Num ---- Username ---- Category ------------- Posted -- Expires --- Pages --- | 44464 | STU_RSFURR | STORIES | 12/15/92 | 12/22/92 | 10 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Description: ben brown i | ================================================================================ The great hall of Sperek castle was arrayed as if for a great feast. However, the feast was not set for a multitude. In fact, there were barely a dozen assembled in the hall. Nonetheless, a great festival was taking place. The second son of the duke was to be initiated into the order of wizards. The initiation rite began with much ceremony. Clad in the white garb of a wizard's apprentice, the initiate stood in the center of the large pentagram inscribed on the floor of the great hall. The boy's master read aloud the magical verses of the rite. Five wizards of the order took their places at the points of the pentagram and facing the initiate circled slowly from right to left until they had gone four fifths of the way around the circle. Because the duke was an important man, and because his son showed much promise as an apprentice, several great and important wizards were participating in the ceremony, with the High Sorceress of Eambar leading the rite. She now stood at the top of the pentagram, facing the new initiate. "Now, initiate," intoned the High Sorceress," it is time for you to take your place among the order of wizards." As she spoke, the boy's master brought forward the brightly colored robes the new wizard was to wear. The boy walked silently toward the High Sorceress. The sorceress stepped back out of the circle and the boy stepped into the spot she had vacated. As the new wizard turned to face the pentagram, his old master placed the new robes on him. "I now take my place and stand among you in this order," said the new wizard. " Magic is now my life." With these words the circle proceeded solemnly the rest of the way around the circle. The wizards and onlookers then stood silent as is the custom after such a ceremony. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the entrance of a stranger. "Okay, nobody move!" The stranger was dressed in loose clothing, the color of which was a morass of green, brown, and black. On his head he wore a strangely fashioned helmet, and in his hands held an oddly shaped device which seemed to consist mostly of a long metal tube. The small group turned to face this intruder with confused looks on their faces. The duke looked horrified, and the High Sorceress looked postitively insulted. "Lieutenant," yelled the man as he looked back down the passage," I found 'em, they're in here." Three more of the oddly dressed men emerged from the passage, carrying some of the same devices. The tall one with sandy blonde hair appeared to be the leader. He gave a few orders to his men and they quickly ran to various other entrances to the room. Then he spoke to the onlookers. "I apologize for this rather rude introduction, "said the man. "Who are you? "snapped the High Sorceress. "I'm Lieutenant Michael Leary, United States Army, "said the man," I again apologize for the intrusion, but we were wondering if we could use your castle. There was nobody at the gate, so we came in looking for you. By the way, who's castle is this." "It is mine," said the duke in a rather befuddled tone of voice. Leary turned to the duke. "Uh, sir, would it be possible for us to set up a defensive position in your castle?" he said. "We've been expecting an enemy attack any time." The High Sorceress looked genuinely puzzled. "How," she asked," do you intend to fight without weapons, or are you all wizards?" Leary looked likewise puzzled. "Ma'am," he said," we do have weapons. Our platoon is armed with several light machine guns in addition to our rifles." The High Sorceress thought for a minute, then giggled slightly, then laughed out loud. "Ma'am, I don't see what's so funny about machine guns." stated the Lieutenant. "Your weapons are useless here," retorted the High Sorceress. "They will not work in our world." "I'm afraid you're mistaken, ma'am," responded Leary, " we've had no problems with them." "Your weapons," the High Sorceress laughed," your powder will not ignite in our world. Your mighty guns are useless here." "Ma'am," said Leary," Our weapons work fine. I'm afraid you're mistaken." "Show me your mighty weapon," said the High Sorceress mockingly," Show me that it works." "Ma'am, that won't be necessary," said the Lieutenant calmly. "Your weapons are useless!" yelled the High Sorceress. Leary looked around the room. The man next to him shrugged his shoulders. He looked back at the grinning form of the High Sorceress, then around at the crowd of onlookers. Slowly he took a strange metal device from a pouch on his belt, pointed it at the celling and squeezed his index finger back. A loud noise erupted from the tube. There was a stunned silence in the hall. The High Sorceress looked rather embarrased. The duke appeared afraid. Leary turned to him. "Sir," he said," may we set up a defensive position in your castle for the time being. Just answer yes or no." The duke nodded his head meekly. The Lieutenant, apparently satisfied, took another strange object from the side of one of his men's backpacks, and spoke into it. "Bravo six, this is bravo three six. We've got the O.K. on the castle. It's all clear, sir. I'll see you here."