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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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made me antsy. I needed his knowledge as much as anything.<br />

"I've learned a<strong>not</strong>her priceless bit <strong>of</strong> wis<strong>do</strong>m... for you, I give it for free: A<br />

man is <strong>of</strong>ten wrong about a great many things, and a dead man is one who<br />

has <strong>be</strong>en wrong one <strong>to</strong>o many times." Pharod licked his lips. "Much <strong>do</strong> I<br />

have <strong>to</strong> tell you that one would consider <strong>of</strong> value."<br />

He had a point. "Very well, I will see about finding this sphere for you... in<br />

exchange for what you know."<br />

"Very well, a deal struck, a deal made..." Pharod cracked his crutch sharply<br />

against the flags<strong>to</strong>nes. "A sphere for a peek inside my brain box. Now,<br />

corpse -- there is no time <strong>to</strong> waste. Go <strong>to</strong> the gate at the south and east and<br />

tell those slum<strong>be</strong>ring fools <strong>to</strong> open it for you -- make haste, make haste."<br />

"Hold a moment... I had some other questions for you <strong>be</strong>fore I leave..."<br />

"Then ask!" Pharod smacked his crutch on the cobbles, as if passing<br />

sentence. "Come, come, corpse, time's short and so's my patience."<br />

"When you greeted me, you said something about taking me 'on a jaunt <strong>to</strong><br />

the Mortuary.' What did you mean?"<br />

"You tell me, corpse -- perhaps the Dusties that live there are more <strong>to</strong> yer<br />

likin' than some sweet-bosomed wench?" Pharod tapped his crutch on the<br />

floor, the clacking echoing throughout the court. "Most forgiving <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Dusties, <strong>to</strong> let you stride in and outta there as you please, considerin' you<br />

<strong>do</strong>n't have the decency <strong>to</strong> stay in the dead-book."<br />

The image <strong>of</strong> those grim cham<strong>be</strong>rs came <strong>to</strong> me. Who would want <strong>to</strong> go<br />

there? "I wanted <strong>to</strong> get in<strong>to</strong> the Mortuary? But why?"<br />

Pharod sc<strong>of</strong>fed. "Corpse, you were so <strong>be</strong>nt <strong>to</strong> git in there, now you spill that<br />

you <strong>do</strong>n't even know why's you wanted in there in the first place?<br />

Sometimes it's a wonder why the Planes turn..."<br />

"What is this place?"<br />

Pharod's eyes rolled in his sockets, scanning across the ceiling, walls and<br />

then the floor. "This here's Ill-Wind Court -- <strong>not</strong> a name <strong>of</strong> my choosing,<br />

thank you kindly -- and the kip outside this Court is the Buried Village,<br />

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