NationStates Jolt Archive

"What's that? You want to hear about old Bruce? Well... I don't know... he's dissappeared, and I'd hate to speak in a way that makes a dead man see... my, what a nice assault rifle, Commissar. What was that? You want to know about old Bruce? Well, let Cecil tell you what it is that he knows..."

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It must have been... oh, I reckon a year ago. Bruce was one of those ranger chaps, he'd go into the mountains and look for gold deposits and the like. Well, one day, while I was drinking in the tavern, Bruce just burst through the door.

I've been around a long time, but I ain't ever seen a man look so... haunted would be the word. He walked up to the bar, and just collapsed onto a stool. "I'm never going up into those hills again," was what he said.

Now, this surprised us, and naturally I asked him why not, as we had all thought he had loved his job. Bruce shook his head, and said, "Can you keep a secret?"

We all nodded. Bruce shook his head. "Well, that's not good enough..." Our town constable, Mr. Parkley... you've met Mr. Parkley, of course... then purchased Bruce a drink, and said,

"My friend, please, have a drink... on me." This went on for a while, and finally Bruce realised what Parkley was trying to do. Parkley's an immigrant from Russia, so he might have been a bit too blatant for us Derricksmen.

Bruce sighed, and said, "If you truly wish to know why I will never go into the mountains, I will tell you... but I can not tell you everything... it terrifies me even now."

We all agreed that that was fair enough. It was cold and stormy outside, so anything interesting would be worth listening to.

Bruce started to speak. "I swear, on my honour as a Derricksman, that what I am about to say is true..."

OOC: Let's see how this blending of viewpoints works...

IC:

(Bruce)

I left my house a week ago, going for an eight day stint in the Misties. I had ready all of my usual supplies. There has never been a major exploration effort of the Misties, and... and now I hope there never will be, either.

After an hour or so of walking, the path dissapeared. I cursed, thinking to myself that after I had discovered mines I would need to get the government to install a proper path to them. As the time, however, I was forced to rely purely on my muscles and my walking stick. I began to take notice of several unusual rock formations, which looked as if they had been worked with tools. On distant mountain sides were caves, of a most unusual circular appearance.

(Cecil)

Now, I ain't never gone up that way before, and I ain't planning to either. The Misties... what? Oh, that's just what we call the Western Range. Misties, on account of the mist that collects up there. Now, as I was sayin', I ain't gone, and I don't hope to. But some of the braver boys, after Bruce dissappeared, they went up to them there hills and saw those caves. They didn't see any unusual stones, though.

Reckon Bruce just had an overactive imagination.

(Bruce)

Eventually, I managed to hike towards some sort of plateau. All around me were immense mountains. In the middle distance was yet another one of those caves, this one within reach with an hour's worth of hiking.

I swear to you, as I stand here now, that the mist was coming from this cave. Oh, that loathesome mist... In fact, as I think on it, all the caves had been spouting out mist. But I had only just noticed this one.

And it was mist, regardless of what some scientist-type might say. It wasn't any smoke or steam.

(Cecil)

Well, I ain't sure I believe him on that point. It's my belief, and I'll hold to it, that our Bruce just breathed in some unusual stuff, and dreamt it all.

What's that? Be patient, Commissar.

OOC:Feel free to comment... how am I doing so far?

(Bruce)

Needless to say, that didn't faze me. After I had a light snack, I moved forward. Now, all of us in the business have our own tricks, don't we lads?

Aye. Anyway, as I was sayin', my knees started to throb real funny like, like they do when their's gold nearby. Now, those southerners can have their fancy gold-finders, but there ain't one of those things that can out do my knees. And they were tellin' me that there was a ton of the yellow stuff, right beneath my feet. I looked around, and decided that the best thing to do would be to go under the mound, and so I decided to see if the cave lead down to that point.

And that, lads, was the biggest mistake I'd ever made.