The Passionate Pilgrim

felt misarble and ill! ShadowGal had told me today in uncertain terms about Kurt and herself. I was desperate! Blindd invited me to the Marsh Hall, a tavern in Vesper. He tried to calm me down, but I had drunken too much and my body was aching with severe pain!
A messenger must have informed some of my friends, for suddenly the tavern door swung open, and KugelBlitz, Folco, Kurt, ShadowGal and Sontras entered with worried faces.

When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected.
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And, darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.

And thou whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!

How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

My vision blurred and blackness surrounded me. The pain had finally released my body. "Thou art free now, McBykar! No more sorrow or pain shall hurt thy heart. For as a spirit thou dost not have no feelings!" That was my own voice talking to me! I felt my spirit floating out of my dying body, leaving the soil, the world and the sadness behind...

When I opened my hurting eyes, I found myself in a bed. Every muscle in my body was aching and I shivered. "Thou art at the only healer in Britannia, who can heal the deadly poison!" I was at Moonglow! The healer had sent a messenger to my friends, for I was too weak to leave by myself.
Soon they arrived one by one, their faces drawn by sorrow and delight, they brought me food and welcomed me delighted.

Suddenly a strange hollow voice filled the room, addressing me. It was Mad Biker's voice!!! Fear shook my body. The severe but just voice reminded me of what my father had taught me: To follow the path of Virtue, and not to concentrate on pretty women. To free my mind of these mundane sorrows and clear it for mine only goal: The Virtues!
We all were shocked and surprised! Was this a first sign of Mad Biker's return? He never had spoken to me before from the netherworld!

After I had eaten a little, I felt strong enough to follow my friends to Lady ShadowGal's house.
Yearning filled my heart again, as I was admiring ShadowGal in her beautiful red dress. Suddenly a lightning stroke down from the sky and hit me! Mad Biker's voice rang out: "Remember mine words, son!"
We all were surprised, but then my friends were laughing. Wasn't life hard enough for me, now I would also have somebody who punished my desiring glances?

02/98

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