After a short look around lower down, Ralph spotted the machine that was on fire, but he reasoned that the first course of action would be to shut down the other machines. Knowing that the fire was restricted to one area, he moved much more confidently and swiftly to the end of the room where he found the control switch - it was already off?
Operating on a hunch, he pulled the lever to the on position. No effect, as he'd expected, but now what would happen if he pushed it
off again?
Pushing the lever back to where it was before, he looked around, but still nothing had changed.
"Damn it!" he growled, bashing the panel with his fist, and sending a spark flying. His eyes followed the spark to the ground, then he slowly looked at his hand.
Wonder if I can still get this to work...he thought, turning back to the panel and putting his palm against it. He focused all his concentration on it, not noticing the voice at the other side of the room calling, and at length more sparks seemed to appear between his hand and the panel. But this time, he heard something... The distinctive sound of machinery shutting down.
Good, he thought,
now for the fire itself.
He turned around and only just realised now that the mudokon (
Jim) had been trying to call him.
Not recognising him through all the smoke he marched up to him, ironically asking the same question the other had asked only moments before, "What are you
doing?"
<•-•-•-•-•>
Seeing
Anni's response to her offer, Hembar stayed right where she was. She looked around the room slowly, then she moved a hand up, facing toward herself. Instantly there was a small glow in the feathers adorning her clothing, and then they faded away to invisibility.
Just in case I'm seen by someone else, she thought,
it's probably a little conspicuous with that sort of clothing.
Then, turning back to Anni, who of course with her head down, would have seen nothing, she said slowly, "Look, I know you have no reason whatsoever to trust me in any way at all. And I wouldn't blame you if you decided not to say a word to me. But you seemed troubled, and I'd like to help. And I'll be honest with you, it may help me too. Are the sligs really that bad here?"
OOC: Obeekay, I'm going away for the weekend to my girlfriend's place and unfortunately online access there is decidedly
offline, so I'll see if I can post tomorrow (Friday), but if that's not possible you won't be hearing from me till Monday. I won't delay any longer than that, though. Well, hopefully, but you know my reputation
I don't have any reason to procrastinate at the moment though, so all is well
