After listening Kamasut said, “That is an interesting story and I think you have been lucky, but that luck can’t be counted on.” Kamasut was silent for a moment then spoke, “If you want my help we will do some practice work on a few skills, things like pick pocketing, misdirection and illusion. It is the least I can do for you, and I am a pretty good teacher.”

“Thanks Kamasut, I accept, I am sadly lacking in skills, and need all the help I can get. If we can practise for a couple of days I would greatly appreciate it. After two days I will be going back to the city and if you would like to return then we can help you.

“That sounds great; I think a couple of days out here recovering from the other night are what I need.” Kamasut replied.

I nodded, she could take all the time she needed, Indeed I was amazed at her resilience and the fact that she could function. Being tortured and raped, it had to leave a mark. These NPC were not just lines of code, they were real people to me and it showed in how they felt and dealt with things.

The next two days had Kamasut showing me some tricks of the trade. She had an amazing ability to deceive people’s eyes as they strolled past, she would half smile then brush her breasts against an arm and take someone’s purse or wallet as easy as 123.

When I asked her about this she had looked at me and then said, “What were you looking at when we bumped, my eyes first, then my tits then as I walked away my ass. Not once did you look at my hands but if you had you would have seen my right hand sliding down my belly and then you would not looked at the second hand.”

Thinking about what she said I realized that she was right, she was a master at entrapping with her eyes then she would get close enough for her scent to hit you and then her breasts would softly touch you, all in about 3 seconds. Then she was gone, walking away and you would be staring at her ass. With your money in her hands.

I learnt the basics and I could probably lift a purse or wallet or lit open a small bag, but I knew I would never have her skill. The first night after practising all day I had gone out to the lake and was sitting on the shore. I was aware of her approach and not surprised when I heard her ask if she could join me.

“Please do, I am just relaxing,” I said. We sat in silently, I felt no need to speak I was enjoying the evening, watching the water tinkle down and the steam rise off the lake. It was still with not much wind and not as cold as it had been. After several minutes Kamasut began to speak.

“I know I have thanked you before for what you did but I want to thank you again, it sometimes hits me that I would be dead if you hadn’t rescued me. Not to mention what that bitches was doing and had done to me.”

I nodded and just let her continue, she seemed to have a need to talk, not really surprising after everything, most people will shut down, and the others will not shut up. I understood the need to try to express what they were dealing with on the inside. It was a hard thing.

As we sat there Kamasut began to cry, softly at first and then freely, and as she cried she began to moan. She was rocking back and forth as she sat and had tuned me out completely. I listened as she whispered over and over, “Why would that bitch do that to me why?”

It was a sad feeling, a terrible feeling watching someone you know is strong become weak and helpless. My desire to provide comfort was tempered by the no touch rule. Living in the orphanage we had a no touch rule. We had to respect the space of people and never touch them without being invited.

It was understandable and applicable to Kamasut’s situation. She had to work this out and do what she needed to do; I was not prepared to be an artificial crutch. Heartless, cold bastard, maybe but this has become a rough world, and if she could not master her emotions, she would be of no use to me or to herself.

After a while the whispering stopped, then minutes later she looked at me and asked, “Thanks for listening, I was surprised that you did not go all manly and try to hug me and tell me it would be all right.”

I laughed and responded, “Is that what you wanted, some guy promising you the world is a safe and happy place when you know that is a lie. Besides, I think that people should not be handled like a bruised piece of fruit. I once read somewhere a line about not touching people who are hurting unless they invite you to.”

She nodded and then was quiet for a minute before speaking once more. “What do you have to do in the city, maybe I could help you with whatever it is you are doing?”

Letting the thought process for a minute, I explained that I was dropping off a package, to the House of Pain. Once she heard where it was going she wanted details, all of them. It was like having a sister that never grew out of the, ‘I will bug the hell out of you stage.’ I liked it, it reminded me of family.

Deciding to tell her everything, I explained about the Big Book of Discord and how it impacts all who listen to it. Explaining that I wanted to gift the Jackass with it in the hopes that he would not be able to refrain from reading it to the house members. This would cause the house to implode over a period of about a week I hoped

Once I finished speaking Kamasut asked. “Is the book really that powerful? If it would destroy that house and bring grief to the members I am all for it but what if it doesn’t work. It would seem a shame to waste an Epic item on those bastards.”

She was right it would be a waste, but the power of that book and the nature of the Jackass were made for each other. I knew he would not be able to resist the books insults and the negative and angry emotions that it stirred up were undeniable. It would work; I had no doubt about it.

I stood up and looked around, it was extremely peaceful and relaxing, deciding to go for a walk I looked at Kamasut who had also stood up. She walked over to me and then put her arms on my shoulders and pulled me closer, I could feel her hands shaking a little.

Looking at me she whispered, “I still feel I owe you and this is all I have.” Then pulling me closer she kissed me. My hands had risen and wrapped around her sides, I could feel her breasts against me as she breathed. I looked into her eyes and then gently pushed her away.

“It would be too easy to do this but this is not right,” I said. Kamasut looked surprised, and a little sad. I would guess that most women as beautiful as her were not used to having their favours rejected. Deciding to explain before I hurt her by rejection I began to speak.

“If we did this Kamasut, it would not be because you wanted to but because I have an aura that women find attractive and hard to resist. Also you feel that you owe me for saving you and want to thank me. You have been physically healed but the emotional healing takes time and it would be wrong for me to take advantage of you at this time. It is not that I don’t find you attractive I do but this would not be right.”

Kamasut was blushing a little but looked at me and nodded, she said, “I hope you did not find me to be forward, I just felt a little overwhelmed and wanted to express my gratitude.”

“It is all good, I am glad that we can be friends,” I wanted her to know that she had done nothing wrong and that all was well. The aura I shared with Ama was growing stronger now that I was back ingame and I would have to be careful not to let it get me into sticky situations.

Pointing at the cabin I said, “Let’s get you inside, it is getting late.” Holding her hand I led her indoors. Saying goodnight I went back outside I strolled around the island, enjoying the night sounds. It was a peaceful time and refreshed my spirit. I finally returned to the cabin and went to bed.

Morning had come and gone but the fog that had rolled in during the night had stayed. I gathered up what I thought I would need and stopped for a hot cup of kava. Kamasut was still sleeping and Komhether and Sebastian were talking softly. I joined them and listened in as they discussed building plans and ideas.

After several minutes I spoke up, “Guys help Kamasut get back to the city and tell her to meet me at Alaric’s pub tomorrow evening. I will be gone for a few days; I am going to place the book at the House of Pain and try to see what is happening with Reona at the Kradula.”

Having said my goodbyes I left, making my way along the cable car cable I quickly crossed thanks to my wings. Changing back to Elf form I went straight to the Pub, once I was near my map flashed, and two red dots appeared. They had several other green dots next to them. Scanning I saw that it was the two agents that had accosted me. The others that were nearby were backup if needed.

This was a problem, I did not want to fight or deal with them. I had a feeling that they would try to somehow get me out of the game to help deal with the Eldest or at the least try to find out what I knew. I entered Shadows and began to make my way through the fog towards the group.

This was pissing me off, I just wanted to be left alone to accomplish my goals instead here I am playing hide and seek with the special Federal security agents. Jack and Smith, I guess that they had orders and were going to try to carry them out. I found myself hating the situation; the government had to have its nose in everything.

I finally was close enough to hear them speak and it was exactly as I had surmised. They were waiting to grab me and I was going to end up in some hole somewhere, what was surprising was the fact that they were planning on torturing me for the info. I was a non player and had no legal rights they could do whatever the hell they wanted to me and nothing could be done. All they needed to do was catch me.

I stood and stared at them anger swirling around in my mind. Slowly making my way out of the cluster I marked everyone as an enemy and watched the colors change from green to red. Moving back the way I came I settled in for a long watch, I wanted to know where they called home in the city. Once I had that information I could plan out something.

All I knew was I wanted to make them pay. Juvenile maybe but these guys were part of the problem in the real world and now they were trying to bring the shit home here. Not going to happen.

After several hours I saw a group of them break off and make their way up towards the fourth tier gate. After following them for a while it became apparent that they were arriving at a large building, the front was an old shop, the rear a warehouse and the second floor living quarters. It would have a basement of one level possibly two.

Once again I waited and after an hour the group departed, it had taken us half an hour to get here so I would be waiting for at least two more hours. Once the second group had left after their lunch, I slowly made my way to the door. It was unlocked and that made my entrance easy. I drifted through the first floor nothing to note there.

Making my way to the basement I noticed the thickness of the walls and the fact that no one would hear anything, the bastards had chosen well. Going down the stairs I was not hampered by the lack of lighting, my eyes were more than capable of seeing in the darkness. As I suspected they had set up the basement as an interrogation facility, which sounds so much better than calling it what it is, a damn torture chamber.

Is there any difference between what these Federal agents were hoping to do to me or anyone else they thought might give them some information and the House of Pain I thought.

Climbing out of the basement I was filled with disgust, both at men and the society that created these situations. Making my way up the stairs I came to a long passageway with three doors on each side. The first four were bunkrooms with hastily constructed bunk beds. The last room was an office, with a board on the wall and flow charts and the names of various individuals that these agents were interested in. I scanned the info using my PIM and then went to the next room.

It was set up as a lab of sorts, and it had its own mad scientist. I observed him, a human aged unknown but looking about 20. He was talking to himself and writing down notes in a small leather notebook. I listened in, and sure enough he sounded crazy.

“If my theory on VR is correct then that would explain all the crazy things that happen on earth. Records of magic, healings, visions, direct interventions from Gods. It is all there just as it is here. The problem is who wrote the damn code and why is it that some individuals can access the powers and most others can’t.”

“It is clear that both this game and the Earth are artificial constructs, but are we building them ourselves or is someone else. If it is possible to log out here why can’t we log out on earth? Of course there are different rules, perhaps a coding mistake has occurred on earth. Or maybe death is the log out. Without a base of understanding of the rules I can only postulate certain things.”

After listening to him I decided that his notebook was required reading and once he went to the board and began to write I slowly lifted it off the desk and then made my way outside. Traveling down to the lower harbour I made my way to the Inn I had stayed at before and rented a room for a week.

I started to read and after several hours I stopped to have some supper and a drink then lighting up a smoke I sat back in the booth and thought of what I had just read. It seemed that Taminder, the mad scientist fellow, was really a bright boy, and had been brought here to acquire practical experience in dealing with NPC and the artificial game world.

This was because he was advancing the theory of multiple virtual realities, only not in a game. According to his theory earth was just one of many artificial constructs, and that we were all playing characters, or NPC as there was little difference.

I had to admit I thought it all bullshit as I started to read it, but then halfway through reading I had a paradigm shift and could see his viewpoint.

There were just too many things that could not be explained, and even in the modern world crazy shit happened both good and bad. This had been happening from the dawn of recorded history, and now with Gnet it was easy to scroll through the mountains of information, most of which was crap, but enough was real to make a person ask some questions.

To be honest I felt like Taminder was on to something, but I still had to deal with being hunted by the Feds and wanting to accomplish my next task, dealing with the House of Pain. If I could only accomplish one thing here it would be to get rid of those guys. I could not get them out of the game, but I could get them away from each other. It would have to do.