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.Stripped of every jewel and trampled underfoot by tombrobbers.My bones splintered! My countenance smashed-!.I beg yourforgiveness.Indulge me."By all means, go on."Suffice it to say my elements have long been commingled with those of theuniverse.But let's get to business.Why not have a crack at that door?Rance eyed the empty coffin askance."You seem strangely eager."Then you're afraid.The curse deters you, as it did all the others.I fear itis my lot to wait for someone with suflicient mettle."Hold on, I haven't yet made my decision."The voice took time to size him up.No, not you."Eh? Why not?"You're an odd-looking sort.Dark-complected, longfaced.And a long nose, too.It emphasizes a weak chin, a sure sign of pusillanimity.Rance smiled."Your taunts won't goad me.But I will take a crack at yourdoor.The truth is I'm desperately in need of booty."Splendid! Finally someone with suffcient courage.You have my profoundadmiration and deepest sympathy.Rance halted a motion to lift the hammer."How's that?"The curse, man, the curse! Have its implications somehow eluded you?"No, but in my own particular case, my fortunes could not go more awry."Down on your luck? You have the look of degenerate nobility about you.Landpoor? Too bad.But your luck can and will get worse.This I will warrant."Spirit, I detect a note of glee."Academic interest only.You will admit I have little to occupy my time."Is this truly, then, what death is?"My punishment, I think."You're not certain?"The uncertainty is surely part of the punishment.He nodded, picked up the sledge, and slammed at the door.The barrier came down in no time.Within lay darkness.He picked up thelantern and peered in.It was a thick, almost tangible darkness that seemed todrink up light.Page 16 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlAfraid?"Of course, damn you.What fiendish delights have you planned for me?"Fiend I am none.Would that I were! Demons are powerful.Alas, I am but a soullost."Lost and by the wind mourned, Ghost, begone! You bother me."He stepped into the chamber.Something crunched underfoot.The darkness seemed to recede.He caught the glint of smiling teeth, a deathrictus.Then another.Then piles of skulls, and bones.He turned to go but it was too late.The real door-a mammoth slab of finelydressed limestone-banged down before he could barely move.Darkness adamantinefell.Hear that?He could hear nothing but the pounding of his heart.That is the drip of water from a cistern.You will not die of thirst.Youwill, however, die slowly of starvation.You might be able to catch a dungbeetle now and then.You may perhaps find a thigh bone to gnaw on.But youwill eventually starve in here.Do wish me to describe the sensations of sucha slow dying?He kicked bones out of the way, found a spot to sit, and did."Doubtless I can't stop you.Please begin."A willing victim! Hmm.I'm not sure I like that.Anyway, first come theunbearable cravings.?CHAPTER SIX"WHAT IS THIS PLACE, some kind of nightclub?" Max asked, wandering around thelaboratory."Nope," Jeremy said.He was seated at the work station of the giant mainframecomputer that occupied the center of the floor."It's a castle.""Looks like one.But what's it doing in this building?""It isn't in our office building.It's in another world." Max chuckled."Is this the Twilight Zone or something?""Nah.I don't even remember that show, though I've seen a few reruns.No, thisis Castle Perilous.It's kind of like at the center of the universe.Controlsall space and time, and a bunch of different worlds.144,000 of them, to be exact.""Look, kid," Max said, walking over to the work station."I don't know whatyour game is, but I really have to get back to work.""Hell, nobody ever believes it.Wait just a minute." Jeremy typed furiously onthe keyboard."Okay, but I really have to get back."Max again took in the strangeness of the place.What in the world was all thatjunk in the middle of the floor? Looked like an assortment of jukeboxes circa1950."What is that.stuff there.Those-?""Computer," Jeremy said."Right.""It's the castle mainframe.I'm the chief of data processing around here.It'snot a conventional computer.It works on magic."Max finished drained the dregs of his Coke and crumpled the can."Look, kid-""Don't call me that! I'm twenty-three years old.""Sorry.Listen, buddy, I have a deadline
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