| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
So there's life here after all.
|
| You:
|
Could I ask you some questions?
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
By all means. Dazzle me. See if I care.
|
| You:
|
I need some directions.
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Oh, you're lost!
That's rather cute, I think.
Directions, yes.
Left and right have always worked well for me. Up and down are not so good, but work most of the time. Did you want to go somewhere? Or will anywhere do?
Right. Where to, my furry friend?
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| You:
|
I'm not furry.
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Of course not.
|
| You:
|
Let's talk about something else.
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Very well, my furry friend, I shall venture to talk about the elusive "something else".
Any questions?
|
|
|
|
|
| You:
|
What are you doing here?
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Indeed I do.
|
| You:
|
No, seriously, what are you doing out here?
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Yes. Very much so.
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| You:
|
Do you understand what I'm saying?
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Completely.
You're making all the sense of a gagged squabble.
I on the other hand...or perhaps the right hand.
I never really liked the left one, but I guess I can't do without.
You're probably wondering what a man such as myself is doing out here?
|
| You:
|
Yes.
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Then let me enlighten you.
Wiggelings have taken over the outer zones, and are moving in.
This is the only safe area from them and their kind.
They want to rule, but they want to hide, you understand?
The Omnificents are gathering and they mean business.
|
| You:
|
Who are the Omnificents?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Great forces gathering.
I can say no more.
|
| You:
|
Do you mean Omni-Tek?
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
If I meant Omni-Tek I would have said so, and I didn't.
So, no.
|
| You:
|
Who are the Wiggelings?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
They mean you no well.
Trust me. Fear them and hide!
You are never safe amongst people. Stay alone and hidden.
I do, and I'm alive.
|
| You:
|
But what are the Wiggelings?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Dark people from the outer zones. Hidden. Masked. No one wants them near.
|
| You:
|
Let's talk about something else.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
"Something else?" Not a very interesting topic. Very broad, very...how shall I say, undefined?
|
|
|
|
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I could see you coming a mile away. Is there anything I can do to make this conversation shorter?
|
| You:
|
Tell me about yourself.
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I am Zibell. This much is obvious.
|
| You:
|
Thank you for that information.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
You are most welcome.
I have no home to invite you into, but consider yourself invited.
|
| You:
|
Where?
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| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Inside the home I do not have for the drink I will not offer and for the warm hospitality I so courteously refrain from showing you.
|
| You: I see.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Most perceptive of you.
Ah. Do you hear it?
Wild gullows from the yonder lingerlings?
No?
No matter.
|
| You:
|
What are gullows?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Very tiny.
|
| You:
|
Let's talk about something else.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
What an odd topic. It's not often a challenge comes along but...ah...wait. We're changing the subject aren't we?
|
|
|
|
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
And don't come back!
Oh, you just arrived, didn't you.
Hello.
|
| You:
|
Tell me about yourself.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I am Zibell. This much is obvious.
|
| You:
|
Thank you for that information.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
You are most welcome.
I have no home to invite you into, but consider yourself invited.
|
| You:
|
Where?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Inside the home I do not have for the drink I will not offer and for the warm hospitality I so courteously refrain from showing you.
|
| You:
|
I don't get it.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Then it is out of my hands.
There is no more I can do for you.
I bid you farewell.
|
| You:
|
Let's talk about something else.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
What an odd topic. It's not often a challenge comes along but...ah...wait. We're changing the subject aren't we?
|
|
|
|
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Huh?
|
| You:
|
Tell me about yourself.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I am Zibell. This much is obvious.
|
| You:
|
It is now?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Certainly.
And who are you?
Nevermind. It is of no consequence anyway.
You wanted to know about me? My troubles, my desires, my secrets?
|
| You:
|
Yes.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
No matter. It probably...
Oh, you said 'yes'.
Ahh... I have secrets to tell, hidden ones, deep ones, and trouble. Much, much trouble.
My nemesis is near. I desire him not.
|
| You:
|
Tell me about your secrets.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Yes! Secrets.
The hidden things.
I can tell you about the city on the sea.
A magical place. Forbidden. Very forbidden, but people come and go there anyway. How? I do not know. But there are strange things afoot in the city of Jobe.
|
| You:
|
What can you tell me about Jobe and its mysteries?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
A spirit world is there perhaps? I know little, but I do know there are strange goings on there.
One day we will all know.
|
| You:
|
Tell me about your troubles.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Troubles!
Yes! Doctor Krank is my troubles. All of them, infact, are him, and his little make-believe machineries.
He's totally mad you know. Off his rocker, out of his nest, skating on thin ice, or whatever.
I want him gone. I don't need my nemesis close.
|
| You:
|
Dr. Krank is your nemesis?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Most certainly.
He is sent here to torment me with his incomprehensible chatter and attitude. I will not stand for it. The man must go.
He's crowding my space. One loonie has to be enough, can't he understand that?
Nemesis, yes, very nemenmittic. Gone he is. Loo-o-o-o-nie!
|
| You:
|
You're aware that you're insane?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I said no such thing.
And I am perfectly average, like many of yourselves.
We can be pals. Great pals!
But first you must travel to the far reaches of the land, and leave me in peace for a while.
Great misgivings are afoot about the shape the world.
It could be flat. Go check it out.
|
| You:
|
What more can you tell me about Dr. Krank?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
No.
My mind turns red at the thought of him.
Pest! Go talk to him. Make him move away or something.
Please. I want peace and quiet. May his Omni-Tek employers drag him back to his cage.
Oh, and don't believe anything he says about his tiny machines.
|
| You:
|
What tiny machines?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Exactly. Not there. All in his mind, I'm telling you.
He can't be trusted. Has a mind of his own, that man.
|
| You:
|
Dr. Krank is working for Omni-Tek?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Of course he is.
Are you blind?
This loonie is writing reports and sending them off at a furious pace.
He's always snooping around the Enigmas, trying to figure something out.
Annoying little man.
|
| You:
|
What's he reporting?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I don't read.
Much.
But he should be carefuller. Indeed he should. Treading on warm water he is. Bad for the health.
|
| You:
|
Why is he studying the Enigmas?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
How should I know.
I tend to keep out of his way.
He's not right in the head, you know. All the clockwork got tangled up many years ago. Go see for yourself. Don't be fooled by his oddliness. He's a secret agent. I'm sure I thought he was watching me once, but I was mistaken.
|
| You:
|
Dr. Krank is your nemesis?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Most certainly.
He is sent here to torment me with his incomprehensible chatter and attitude. I will not stand for it. The man must go.
He's crowding my space. One loonie has to be enough, can't he understand that?
Nemesis, yes, very nemenmittic. Gone he is. Loo-o-o-o-nie!
|
| You:
|
Tell me about your desires.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Pehaps I should not.
I have...ah...oh wait!
Dr. Krank! I desire him gone. Forever.
This would please me. But it will not happen.
Dumb glibbling!
But no more talk of him. He upsets me.
|
|
|
|
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I could see you coming a mile away. Is there anything I can do to make this conversation shorter?
|
| You:
|
Tell me about yourself.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I am Zibell. This much is obvious.
|
| You:
|
It is now?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Certainly.
And who are you?
Nevermind. It is of no consequence anyway.
You wanted to know about me? My troubles, my desires, my secrets?
|
| You:
|
No.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
So be it.
I never fancied all the fuzz about it anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I am Zibell. Make no mistake about it. I once did and was punished for it.
|
| You:
|
Tell me about yourself.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
I am Zibell. This much is obvious.
|
| You:
|
It is now?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Certainly.
And who are you?
Nevermind. It is of no consequence anyway.
You wanted to know about me? My troubles, my desires, my secrets?
|
| You:
|
If you want to talk about it.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Did I say I would not?
Very well. I shall give you my secrets, my desires and my troubles.
In no particular order and without thought to the consequences.
|
| You:
|
What consequences?
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
Knowledge has consequences, my friend.
Make no mistake. Anything you hear is potentially life-altering.
If not for you, then maybe for someone else. Are you still ready?
|
| You:
|
On second thought, I'll pass.
|
| Zibell the Wanderer:
|
You're such a chicken.
A little furry chicken with little fluffy, furry, coward-wings.Baaak. Baaaak.
|
