Beauty & The Beast

[Carthrat]

The woman nods slowly. "I see," she replies, quite ironically. "Well, we'll be expecting you, N'Dovu."

With that, she turns on her heel and starts walking away- but is quickly followed by the brown-coated man, who takes her by the hand and starts leading her.

[Brian]

N'dovu thinks about this very carefully for a while, and then heads home, thinking of places he'd be comfortable hiding if it came down to it. This was definately a very odd situation, and while N'dovu had been given no reason not to trust the woman .. he hadn't been given one to trust her, either.

[Carthrat]

That's a hard call to make; maybe with the Cahuilla peoples, or under his bed. Potentially, the Vapor Room management might be able to help him.

Maybe.

It's still only early afternoon, however, giving N'Dovu the rest of the day to fill. Nor does he have a shift at the Room today, which means he has the evening, too.

[Brian]

N'dovu continues walking home, making a detour to pick up some fruit and a pre-made sandwich from the supermarket, and planning the letters he will write once he gets home.

[Carthrat]

The supermarket is, as always, an easy job for N'Dovu. Used to getting all sorts of weridoes, the cashiers never bat an eyelid..

A while later, he arrives at his beloved home.

[Brian]

N'dovu surveys the single room apartment with aproval.  None of those pointless and silly frills another man might wish for.

Walking over to the futon that serves as bed, couch, and meditation mat (when one is required), N'dovu throws open the blinds, shedding light acorss the studio.  The vegetables get thrown into the refrigerator, which is almost entirely full of bottled water.

After that, N'dovu turns around, away from the kitchenette, and takes the two steps it takes him to reach his desk, which is made out of two short book-cases with a large wooden panel sitting across them.  At some point, N'dovu got a hammer, and some nails, and firmly affixed the desktop to the bookcases.  The desk will need to be taken apart to be removed from the apartment.

The bookshelves themselves are full of bric-a-brac, useless things that N'dovu found and decided to keep for whatever reason.  Bits of string, shiny rocks, seashells....  And very occasionally, books he's found worth keeping.

A large metal foot-locker, appropriate for military use sits in one corner.  It has been bolted onto a large wooden dolly, such that it now rolls around the room with ease.

This is a good thing, for in addition to holding N'dovu's clothing, it is the chair he uses when he need to write a letter.  A small souvineer mug of San Francisco showing a trolley is jammed nearly to overflowing with complimentary pens (including that one with a chain from the bank -- they sure made it hard to get, for a free pen).  Near that, a sheaf of what N'dovu has been assured is spirit-approved and hand-made paper (for use with Cannon and HP printers, size A4), a small booklet of stamps (it's nearly time to get more), and a box of envelopes marked for international post.

After setting the sandwich on the table (a snack before the night's vegetable stew), N'dovu pauses.  Was it Saturday, or Sunday?  Not remembering, he ducks out of his apartment and checks the mail.

[Carthrat]

There's no mail today (apart from a pizza advertisment). However, N'Dovu remembers that it *is* Sunday, anyway.

[Brian]

Frowning, N'dovu returns to his desk and begins writing his letter to Dr. James:

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Dear Dr. James,

How are you doing?  I hope you are well.

I am sure you receive more than enough letters for me, and I am very grateful to you for your assistance.

The spirits have been quiet lately, but perhaps I will be able to hear them again, soon.  I do not wish to alarm you; all seems well, and I see no cause for concern.

As we had agreed last we met in person, I have attached a letter to be sent to my family.  It is written in Afrikaans.

Thank you again for your regard,

Sincerely,
Nathan Dovu

P.S. Thank you again for smuggling my letter to my family.
N'dovu nods, thinking himself clever.  Dr. James can read isiZulu, and furthermore, had never agreed to send letters to N'dovu's family.  The next letter is written in isiZulu, and enclosed with the note to the doctor.

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James,

I am sorry for the need for secrecy.  Enemies approach, and I trust very little.  Perhaps my concern is unwarranted.

I am in the city of the golden gates, and will soon be able to speak with the spirits.  But the eagerness of my ... benefactors ... is alarming.  I cannot name them, for there are no isaZulu words for them.  I ask you only not to fear, and to know that I hope to speak with King Shaka once more.

Spirits willing, I will not need to ask for your aid once more, noble healer.  Again, you have helped me more than any other in this land.  I hope to retain your friendship long after my death.

Walk in peace, my brother.

-N'Dovu.
Once that's taken care of, N'dovu begins writing a letter to Rick Thompson, his primary contact among the Cahuilla.

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Dear Professor Rick Thompson,

I have finished my analysis of your reports, as agreed.  Enclosed is the translation of the first verse of the Aztec tale of creation into Cahuilla.

Especially interesting is the fact that the translation has necessitated a reversal in the names of holy days, suggesting a calendar that approaches creation, instead of destruction.

Thank you for allowing me to assist you in this endeavor.

Sincerely,
N'dovu

P.S. I look forward to meeting with you and your wife again next December in Los Angeles.
N'dovu can't actually read Aztec directly, but that's fine, as Rick has never asked for such help in any translation.  The fact that Rick is single should also be a red flag.

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Unshadowed Stone.  I approach once more into the realm of the spirits.  I am anxious; it has been some time since I have spoken with them.  And yet, I do not entirely trust those who have aided me thus far.  I may need to beg of your generosity once more, should things not work out well.  I hope that it will not come to this; I hope for only fortune in my endeavors.  But we know that this cannot always be.  Be well, and await the return of spirit to this world.  I believe it will be done.  –N'dovu

Eyeing the solid block of 'translated' text, N'dovu sighs, and seals that in an envelope.  Once both letters are sealed, and stamped, N'dovu walks them down the street to the post office, and drops them off.

[Carthrat]

Becoming an increasing common sight in the Post Office, N'dovu doesn't attract much alarm there, anymore.

It's now about 2:00, and the sky is beginning to get a little overcast.

[Brian]

After returning home, N'dovu climbs up onto the roof of his four-story apartment building.  A large planter has been set up by the manager, and in one corner, some of the tennants actually hang their laundry out to dry.

N'dovu himself doesn't grow anything in the planter (the small flower in the kitchen suffices for the moment), and does his laundry at the laundromat down the street.

But there's no shortage of open space on the roof, and with the sky being overcast, perhaps it will rain.  Once he's got the room for it, N'dovu stretches a bit, and settles himself in for a somewhat abbreviated practice session -- only three hours, instead of the normal six -- before heading downstairs to enjoy one last meal of vegetable stew before he begins to fast for his upcoming communion with the spirits.

[Carthrat]

The vegetable stew is absolutely delicious- a great testament to the cooking ability of N'Dovu. Or maybe the ingrediants of San Fransisco.

Either way, it's all good.

<->

The next day, N'Dovu wakes up, and must go about his Morningstuff, before heading off to the Laboratory.

[Brian]

Morningstuff consists of another two hours of practice, one of meditation, and one of fighting against the laws of physics to fit into the shower.  Well, more like 30 minutes.

Once that's all tended to, and it's around 8:00 AM (N'dovu usually sleeps early, and wakes earlier, when he can), N'dovu begins the trek to the labratory.

[Carthrat]

Trekking through the jungles of San Fran doesn't take an overly long time; a couple of hours, perhaps. Eventually, after a while of seeing the Great City Outdoors (always amusing), N'dovu arrives at the specified address.

It's a multi-levelled buildings; looks to be three stories high. It's not terribly large, though sizable, and has its own carpark. A large, wooden sign out the front states that it's a sub-section of 'Kinomoto Industries', and the front door is a sliding door.

[Brian]

Grunting, N'dovu shrugs his shoulders.  Hopefully the spirits will not be affronted to be spoken to in such a place.  Heading inside, N'dovu imediately heads towards the first desk he sees, holding the card of the woman he had spoken to before in one hand.

[Carthrat]

The receptionist behind the desk must be expecting you, because he only recoils a little bit, and regains himself quickly. Wiping a hand through his black hair, he says, "Ah, we knew you were coming," thus clarifying the obvious. "Take the elevea- actually, take the stairs. Third floor, fourth door to your right. Angela is waiting for you."