The Merry Mongbat in the Divided City
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 4762
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With the dampness of the fog beginning to sink into Fred's outer
garments, he walked to the Inn of the Merry Mongbat. Unfortunately, the
door was barred shut. He knocked, but received no answer from within. He
knocked again and still all was silent. Fred felt slick moisture seeping
into his undergarments and silently cursed the night-fog. More determined
than ever Fred pounded on the door repeatedly. Finally a block of wood
slid open revealing two eyes peering from within.
"We're closed," came a gruff voice. "Go away." "But kind sir, I am a traveler and because it is late I am in need of a roof, a cot, and a bite of bread." "That be not my problem, Traveler. Bugger off." Before the man shut the panel Fred said, "I can pay for any inconvenience, I swear on the terrible tentacles of Death." "If you could pay, why you picking me? Why not the Hillton up yonder hill... I hear the view is bloody great and they've got a ton of calves for mincing!" He said this with both cynicism and disgust. Fred was now very wet from the night air which seemed to him to be condensing within his very trousers, if that were possible; and angry that this innkeeper wouldn't let him in. "Listen, good sir, if my travels permitted me entry any earlier I would have gladly knocked on your door before the sun slept, but the fact of the matter is that I am here now, and I don't want to climb any hill for a piece of bread!" "How much?" said the innkeeper. "Excuse me?" said Fred, a bit confused. "How much can you pay?" "What's the going rate?" "Hmmm,you've got your after sunset rate of two silver, a bother fee of one- half copper, a wildman fee of three copper, and a tomfoolery fee of five copper. All in all, give me one and one-half gold and you got yerself a place to stay." Fred was not in a merry mood, no matter what the name of this establishment was, it was far from 'merry'. "That's highway robbery," he hissed. "Actually no," said the innkeeper. "Highway robbery is what you'll get if you stay out all night. Take it or leave me alone." Fred grumbled and put one gold piece and three silver pieces up to the open slot. With payment in hand the innkeeper opened the door and let Fred in. "Traveler," said the innkeeper. "The kitchen is closed, but I'll send up a piece of bread to your room - that'll be the rock room." "I beg your pardon?" said Fred. "The room upstairs, third on the left, it has a picture of a rock on the door. That one is yours." With no more words Fred goes to his room, soon hears a knock and takes his bread, and then disrobes, shoves a chair up against the door, wraps a leather cord about the window bar, and enters a fitful sleep.
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1/1/2003 5:48:55 PM
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