Patchwork Universe

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 220 Location: The Museum

[OOC: Entering from "The Museum: Home Base"]

Probing for a soft spot, Dr. Odom shoved the flag firmly into the ground and then surveyed his new surroundings as he crafted a cigarette.

Not far ahead was some sort of fence, with a gate, maybe, about a mile to the east.

"So, these are Mr. Quickgrip's slums, then."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 5:48 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel stepped through, blinked, and looked around.

"Doesn't look like the slums to me." She ventured. "And I can't imagine a god needing a fence."

She closed her eyes and listened.

"I want to hear what Trubshawe thinks." She eventually said.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: The Zoo

Arriving through the mists last, by dint of being the one in charge of uncoiling the second length of rope, Trubshawe could not believe the sight that met his eyes. But his sensitive nose could never be mistaken about the delightful mingled odours that now assailed it.

"It's the Zoo!" he cried joyfully, thrusting the remains of the coil into Dr Odom's hands, and breaking into a jog in the direction of the main entrance.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 220 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom blinked in surprise at the outburst. He quickly tied the rope to the flag, hoping that there would be time later to find out if it would reach the fence, and turned to his remaining companion. "Shall we find out if he intends to continue our exploration or to stay? I suppose it's safe to say we, as a group, need do little in the way of inqiries here."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 11:02 pm Post subject:

"Yes, I think we should follow him." Dr Jewel agreed. "Whilst I'm sure he's currently delighted to be back, it doesn't change the problems with the landscape."

"Besides," Jewel started to trot after Trubshawe, "I have a certain amount of curiosity about this zoo of his. And you could always tell George that's it's just to the north of the Museum."

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 155 Location: The Zoo

It didn't take Trubshawe too long to reach the zoo entrance: eagerness to be back home lent wings to his heels.

Pausing and harrumphing for breath, he noticed that the turnstiles had been reopened. So one or more of his Assistant Zookeepers must have returned from their own explorations already. Not that that came as much surprise, given their tendency to skive off their duties at the least opportunity.

Stepping through the turnstiles, he entered one of the ticket booths and slid open a panel beneath the counter. Inside was a mouthpiece on the end of a flexible metal cable, which he unhooked and brought to just below the level of his moustache. Flicking a switch he announced:

"Could all Assistant Zookeepers please report to the main zoo entrance. Sharpish!"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Thu May 06, 2004 7:02 am Post subject:

Jewel glanced at Odom.

"At least we know that the main entrance must be where he went." She said. "I wonder how many Assistant Zookeepers there are."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 220 Location: The Museum

"Hm. I would guess there are most likely three, four or twelve and least likely two, six or eight. It's just a guess, though, based on traditions of some sort of cultural background we all seem to share. You know, like the fact that we all seem familiar with four-sided buildings and doors that work in the same ways."

Even without running, Drs. Jewel and Odom were not far behind Trubshawe and it was only a few minutes before they joined him at the turnstiles.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 12:28 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel paused, just before the turnstiles. She turned back to her companion.

"On second thoughts," She said, "perhaps waiting for him might not be a good idea. I'm not sure what he plans to say to his assistants, but it could take longer than we expect. Our head Zookeeper did strike me as the sort of person who could leave us waiting a very long time if he felt that circumstances merited it. He may have quite a number of other people to speak to, after all."

She glanced back in the direction of the Museum.

"And he knows where to find us." She added.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 220 Location: The Museum

"Hrm. Yes. Still, bad form to hurry back without letting him know, don't you think? Perhaps we should give him a shout and if he doesn't answer we could maybe leave a note . . . um . . . here in this crevice."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 2:57 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel glanced up at the board by the turnstiles which listed the names of the staff members.

"Mr Trubshawe!" She called. "We were going to sort out the next rope whilst you put your zoo in order?"

She waited to see if there was any response.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 220 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom wrote carefully in his notebook and tore out a page. He folded it once legthwise and wedged it into the turnstile.

dr Mr. Trubshawe,

As we seem to have misplaced you we shall continue the experiment. We shall proceed to the west side of the building. I believe you are familiar with the area from which I believe we would do best to leave the Museum. It is the loading dock from which you brought the rope. If you go into the building, turn right and keep your right hand on the wall you should encounter a single left turn and a door before you reach the dock. After exploring the region to the west we shall continue to the public house.

yrs,
Dr. W. T. Odom, C. G.

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 6:39 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel nodded her approval.

"That should be adequate." She said. "Let's get back to the Museum and sort out the west rope."

She turned around and started to pick her way back southwards to the Museum.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 220 Location: The Museum

Dr. Odom stopped long enough to move the end of the rope from the yardstick to a bar of the fence. He was relieved his practical joke had turned out to have a favorable side effect; the couple of hundred feet of rope reached the fence where the coil of string he had suggested would not have.

After securely knotting the rope, Dr. Odom hurried to catch up with Dr. Jewel.

[OOC: Dr. Odom leaves the Zoo for "The Museum: In Transit"]

Dr Jewel · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 9:05 pm Post subject:

Dr Jewel glanced around once more at the edge of the mist.

The Maypole Hill excavation, a Museum of almost everything, an inn in the country, a school with a bunch of strange devices (which we never did get to the bottom of) and now a Zoo. She considered the different lands for a moment. I wonder what brought them all together?

Dr Jewel stepped over the edge of the patch.

[OOC: Dr Jewel leaves the Zoo for "The Museum: In Transit"]