} Have no fear, you look like you've been through enough. I'm sure you
} look OK when you've had enough sleep and study time, but right now,
} *zotting* would probably be an improvement.
}
} [Thinks for a moment, smiles wisely, beams himself into the
} Supplicant's dorm room, and reassuringly pats the Supplicant's
} shoulder]
}
} You're not really here--it's just a bad dream. Kind of like the old
} "You're taking a final exam, and you know zilch about the subject, and
} you'll be expelled if you flunk--and by the way, you're naked" dream
} that haunts you for decades after graduation.
}
} Well, in real life, you *have* graduated from college, and you're a
} successful computer wizard. Make that *really* successful. Actually,
} you just bought out Bill Gates, and you're worn out from all the press
} conferences and interviews with _Time_, _Newsweek_, _Wall Street
} Journal_, and _Fortune_. That's why you're dreaming all those strange
} dreams.
}
} [Gently guides Supplicant away from computer, then tucks Supplicant and
} Supplicant's teddy bear into bed] Now you just dream yourself back into
} bed and get some rest, OK? [Orrie hums soothing lullaby until
} Supplicant is snoring away, then beams himself back to his office. An
} Apprentice Incarnation who has been watching the whole proceedings
} asks:]
}
} Apprentice: Um...master? I thought the Supplicant really *is* still
} in school...or did I miss something?
} Oracle: You're right. On the other hand, it *is* 00:13 in the
} morning, and the Supplicant *should* be tucked up in bed, and the
} assignment *isn't* due for another 3 weeks, and the chocolate machine
} *is* out of order. One night of normal sleep isn't going to hurt the
} assignment...and besides, the Supplicant will assume that the Bill
} Gates thing was just a dream, and a good bizarre dream can be a
} wonderful restorative for the spirit...
}
} You owe the Oracle a hot mug of peppermint tea, since the chocolate
} machine's down.
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