h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*draws the stowaway up toward the bow, where they can still see the others, and speaks in a low voice*

The Raven cannot be overcome with violence. It will be necessary to trick him...

Sarah Briggs has her attention entirely taken up with learning and using her newly realised power. The men need their hands open and attention on weapons and the boat. You have the willpower to direct a spell if I prepare it for you, although you do not seem to have a magic of your own. Will you do this?

Amelia: I'd be glad to do that for you, Uli, but are you /certain/ that it would work? I mean, I don't want anyone else to get hurt in the process...

*Her eyes flick to Richardson, Sarah, and Capt. Briggs*

Amelia: I'm already going to be fired from my job as it is... I don't want to see any of these people hurt after I've done so much to protect them in the first place. But tell me what to do, and I'll gladly do it.

Fired? Your job?

You are another one who wants the golden totem. I don't know what everyone will do after, if we best the Raven, but right now we are united in our comprehension of his evil.

I think I am the only other magician on this craft with the magic strength to fight the Raven. I think that the Raven is greedy and that he would inhabit me if he got the chance.

With a spell, I think I can make you aware before anyone else that I have been taken by the Raven. If this happens, you must then say some words I will tell you and throw this overboard. *holds up a small carving of a polar bear on a leather thong* I will not be killed but I will be changed into a great white bear.

And, as a bear, I will know what to do. *smiles* A bear cannot utter spells!

It may not come to this. If something happens to Martens' body, though, I will have to go to the Spirit World, and I may then be vulnerable.

Will you do this?

*hears the ghost speak and her eyes become distant momentarily as she replies*

*Then she focusses again on the stowaway*

Amelia: Certainly. But of this golden totem. What is that, exactly? I haven't the slightest. But to aviod confusion, I'll explain a few things. My job is my trade. I teach people about the past so thet they might tell it to their children in the future.... And also, though you might find this hard to believe, I am /from/ the future. We have ways of traveling backward in time to collect information about the past to take to the future. I wanted to see what happened to the Mary Celeste, so I asked for that assignment. As for being fired, that pretty much means that I've trifled far too much with the people on this ship, and that will probably change the future, and therefore, I shall loose my job. ...That wasn't too confusing, was it...? *she bites her lip*

From the future? Of course. I have met people from other times in the Spirit World... but not from your time. And now I understand why you were reluctant to fight the sea beast. But losing your job is surely a better thing than losing your soul, yes?

The golden thing is of great power and desirability to some on this ship. If the Raven, the mage who possesses Martens, takes control of it he will use it to take control of everything else. He is a power for darkness. The cook also wants it for his own people, the mermen we saw. And there are others among us who also covet it. I have restored it to its rightful owner, Sarah Briggs --

*she frowns suddenly, sensing something is amiss*

We don't have much time. If you help me you will be an agent of my actions, rather than an actor in your own right. Do you have shamans in your time? I could visit and explain.

Amelia: It would be lovely for you to visit sometime, unfortunately it can't be any time soon because i just have this /one/ one way ticket planted behind my ear... *she taps the area behind her ear where the chip is implanter* But either way, /yes/ I want to keep my soul, and let's get on with this thing. *grin* I think I get it rather well. You give me the scroll, and tell me what to day, and if anything goes awry, I throw it overboard, and you will turn into a bear who cannot utter incantations. Correct?

*frowns* It is not a scroll, it is a bear. You will take it from me after I start my dance, please -- and I will turn into a bear. Be sure that you throw it overboard! With your help, Raven will be contained as well as Evil ever can be contained in this Between World, and we will all keep our souls, as you say.

Thank you. I sense that we do not have much time.

*turns back toward the others*

Uli suspected that what has happened would happened and moved away from Amelia before Richardson wandered over: last part of conversation occurred 2 hrs real time before Mac's post, OK?

Sounds fine to me.