Exhausted, Julie unlocks the door to her room at the Red Dragon Inn. Just 12 hours earlier she had arrived in RhyDin. It was a long trip, four days on the large passenger transport and the last two on a crowded shuttle. Of course her baggage, tools, communication gear were not loaded into the shuttle. After submitting a form for their return, Julie set off to find what would be her center of operations. On her shoulder was one item that was not lost because she carried it with her, a leather satchel that hung from her shoulder. It held her orders, money to exchange, a map to the area, a key and her portable voice recorder.
Julie Whitefeather, a native of the Northwest area of New Mexico on earth. She was full blooded Navajo, her skin tone dark and easily tanned. Not remarkable in features, she had however, an intelligent face, wide brown eyes and long black hair that was tied up in a loose bun on the back of her head. Her ordinary appearance made her perfect for these kinds of assignments. No one really remembers her and being careful and discreet, it stayed that way.
Walking the packed dirt street, Julie hopped over horse piles, mud puddles and unidentifiable trash. Shops, vendors, smithies and the like seemed totally out of sync with the more modern Stars End area. It reminded her of historical sites on earth where medieval life was re-enacted. And the variety of races! She had traveled over most of the known universe and met all sorts, but this was remarkable.
Examining the map as well as help of friendly passerby?s she located her new ?office?.
A faded sign that boasted of fresh baked goods was taped to the large front window. She looked up to see two windows on a second floor. After locating the key, she unlocked the door, pushing the door inward. For a few moments she stood in the frame of the door taking in the place.
It was clean but very dusty. Julie walked in, her boots making little sound. A square building, a set of stairs lead up to a dark second floor, another door in the back of the room stood open and Julie could see a stove.
First she went up the stairs. After allowing her eyes to adjust to the dark, Julie could make out two doors. Opening up the door on her left, it was an empty square room with two windows that faced the street. A small closet was across from the windows. It was simple, a clothes rack with bent wire hangers and a long shelf above the rack. The patter of little feet above her distracted Julie. She knew that sound.
?Mice.? She muttered to herself. ?Must be an attic or at least a crawl space.?
Leaving what obviously a bedroom she opened the door across the small landing. A bathroom. It was primitive compared to most of Julie?s experiences but it held the necessary commode, an old-fashioned deep tub with claws and a sink complete with a mirror. She glanced at her reflection. Dark circles betrayed her lack of sleep. Leaving both doors open she went back down the stairs and went into what was a kitchen.
The kitchen that probably baked the day?s bread had been stripped except for a wood stove and sink. They had been built into a wall, probably impossible to remove. Another door lead to the back of the building. She unlocked that door and opened it to show an alley. Feral cats scattered when she poked her head out the door. Looking up and down, there stood the usual assortment of trash cans, litter and a drunk on the far end. Closing the door and relocking it, she turned and spotted yet another door. It turned out to be a small room that could have been an office of sorts. It had windows that faced the building next door, under the windows, flower boxes with dead plants and across from the windows another door stood open a crack. It proved to be another closet. Both sides of the closet held several shelves as well as one long one over the rack.
She activated the recorder, held it to her mouth, talking into it as she walked back into the large common room.
?It?s ?? She looked at her wrist watch. ?10 am.. RhyDin time. I found the building I am supposed to work from. It?s primitive, doesn?t have electricity. But, it does have plumbing. I hope it works.?
Julie paused, thinking of what her next move should be. ?Time to go shopping.?
Returning to the Stars End area, she bought the necessary cleaning items as well as drinking water. Until she knew what was in the water, she was not about to drink it. A bout of what some called Montezuma?s Revenge taught her to be cautious.
Back, she worked from the up-stairs rooms down to the lower floors; she swept, dusted and wiped down everything. When she was finished, it was growing dark. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn?t eaten for a while, and she also realized she needed a place to sleep until she could furnish the building. Hoisting her satchel onto her shoulder, she went outside, locking the door behind her.
She headed for the main hub of this strange place.
Julie Whitefeather, a native of the Northwest area of New Mexico on earth. She was full blooded Navajo, her skin tone dark and easily tanned. Not remarkable in features, she had however, an intelligent face, wide brown eyes and long black hair that was tied up in a loose bun on the back of her head. Her ordinary appearance made her perfect for these kinds of assignments. No one really remembers her and being careful and discreet, it stayed that way.
Walking the packed dirt street, Julie hopped over horse piles, mud puddles and unidentifiable trash. Shops, vendors, smithies and the like seemed totally out of sync with the more modern Stars End area. It reminded her of historical sites on earth where medieval life was re-enacted. And the variety of races! She had traveled over most of the known universe and met all sorts, but this was remarkable.
Examining the map as well as help of friendly passerby?s she located her new ?office?.
A faded sign that boasted of fresh baked goods was taped to the large front window. She looked up to see two windows on a second floor. After locating the key, she unlocked the door, pushing the door inward. For a few moments she stood in the frame of the door taking in the place.
It was clean but very dusty. Julie walked in, her boots making little sound. A square building, a set of stairs lead up to a dark second floor, another door in the back of the room stood open and Julie could see a stove.
First she went up the stairs. After allowing her eyes to adjust to the dark, Julie could make out two doors. Opening up the door on her left, it was an empty square room with two windows that faced the street. A small closet was across from the windows. It was simple, a clothes rack with bent wire hangers and a long shelf above the rack. The patter of little feet above her distracted Julie. She knew that sound.
?Mice.? She muttered to herself. ?Must be an attic or at least a crawl space.?
Leaving what obviously a bedroom she opened the door across the small landing. A bathroom. It was primitive compared to most of Julie?s experiences but it held the necessary commode, an old-fashioned deep tub with claws and a sink complete with a mirror. She glanced at her reflection. Dark circles betrayed her lack of sleep. Leaving both doors open she went back down the stairs and went into what was a kitchen.
The kitchen that probably baked the day?s bread had been stripped except for a wood stove and sink. They had been built into a wall, probably impossible to remove. Another door lead to the back of the building. She unlocked that door and opened it to show an alley. Feral cats scattered when she poked her head out the door. Looking up and down, there stood the usual assortment of trash cans, litter and a drunk on the far end. Closing the door and relocking it, she turned and spotted yet another door. It turned out to be a small room that could have been an office of sorts. It had windows that faced the building next door, under the windows, flower boxes with dead plants and across from the windows another door stood open a crack. It proved to be another closet. Both sides of the closet held several shelves as well as one long one over the rack.
She activated the recorder, held it to her mouth, talking into it as she walked back into the large common room.
?It?s ?? She looked at her wrist watch. ?10 am.. RhyDin time. I found the building I am supposed to work from. It?s primitive, doesn?t have electricity. But, it does have plumbing. I hope it works.?
Julie paused, thinking of what her next move should be. ?Time to go shopping.?
Returning to the Stars End area, she bought the necessary cleaning items as well as drinking water. Until she knew what was in the water, she was not about to drink it. A bout of what some called Montezuma?s Revenge taught her to be cautious.
Back, she worked from the up-stairs rooms down to the lower floors; she swept, dusted and wiped down everything. When she was finished, it was growing dark. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn?t eaten for a while, and she also realized she needed a place to sleep until she could furnish the building. Hoisting her satchel onto her shoulder, she went outside, locking the door behind her.
She headed for the main hub of this strange place.