From jlarke@us.itd.umich.eduThu Dec  1 10:46:22 1994
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 1994 21:52:51 -0500
From: Jason Larke <jlarke@us.itd.umich.edu>

	You'd think that given her many years of fighting
with her sis, my wife would be a *little* harder to
phase. Sheesh. It's only a dragon. At worst we get eaten by
a dragon, which is probably better than what Rygat had in
mind.
	Hmmm... makes me realize that I've been feeling like
I'm living on borrowed time ever since then. Took some of
the fear out of me. It's not like I'll ever be able to talk
about it with anyone, but nothing that has happened to me
can compare in raw physical anguish to having my skin sliced
mostly open, total nerve deafness, my dead horse's head over
mine, and nailed to the wall. Makes everything else seem
somehow easier to bear.

	So, anyway, my starring role as Amber's first and
best kamikaze sex fiend and diehard threw me into this
bizarre seen where Eris asks Laughter asks me to go looking
for Driscoll, who doesn't want to be found, and of course
this means Random can't be told. The son says don't follow
and the Dad can't be bothered- so that leaves Laughter. Pure
genius.
	On the other hand, she could get into a lot of
trouble, and I don't like the thought of anyone getting into
trouble if I can stop it. I know what can happen when you
ride into Shadow alone. Driscoll taught me. I owe him that,
whether I learned the lesson or not. So I'll help.

	Besides, I wanted to hear someone say something
other than "Beauty!"

	I had to ask Kimbdyl to join us when the Pattern
petered out. I hate it when it does that. I hate it even
worse when the dragon we meet turns out to have a history of
eating people who look just like Laughter. She may feel
safer because it's all conversational with us, but I've
known Flora all my l am *not* reassured.
	Luck Kimdyl's with me. If worst comes to worst, she
won't have to raise the kid alone.

	On top of all this, Lyss is pregant. The paramount
question, should I continue to breathe at the end of this
encounter, is the identity of the father. I truly hope it is
not Bart. Aside from being annoying and immature, he is
family. My own life has been ample proof that incest is not
best, and that the offspring thereof are at no
advantage. And my folks are perfect breeders compared to
Bart and Lyss. I love my pseudo-daughter dearly, but her own
stupidity is nearly lethal. Combined with Bart's and
whatever recessives they may have, and the child might well
be a nightmare.
	Maybe I can talk them into naming the kid "Beauty"
and letting Nicholas play with her. That'll show 'em.