***** Erebor Time + Weather Service ******************************************

** Real time is: Fri Sep 03 09:33:06 1999, GMT -8 **
Elendor time is: Midnight (about Time for a Midnight snack ) on Trewsday, 20
April 3018. In the Spring sky, The last quarter moon rides across the stars
fair unto an iridescent ship. 

****************************************** Erebor Time + Weather Service *****

Scowling, and murmuring something in the Dark Tongue that is wholly inaudible,
the ebony troll punches the gate once, though lightly, with it's enormous fist.
Turning, then, the violet eyes flit about, looking over the cells, until they
come once again upon the cell in which Gumbart dwells. Again, the stone beast
lumbers toward the cell, sitting down infront of it this time rather than
squatting. "Why dorf not wanna serve da Eye? Eye good... it make everything
good. Rule world, make world better."

Gumbart lurches towards the iron bars and stares at the beast outside his cell.
Calmer than just an hour ago he says, "Be gone, beast! You are a mindless slave
of your master. Don't you see that? They are pushing you around, locking you
up, trying to make you work as hard as possible for the rotten food the give
you." Gumbart shakes his head. If I were you, I would be long gone."

Puck allows the smile to return once again, finally, lips parting to show the
beast's sharp ivory teeth in contrast to the ebony skin. The violet eyes blink,
slowly, "Mebby you better talk nicer. Master not want me kill ya... but I still
hurt you perty bad. Not feel like hurt you, but you not be very nice." It
states, pulling on one of the bars. He moves it... just very slightly, not
enough to make much difference. Just to make his point. The silvrey claws click
together, "Master reward good warrior, tho'. We get purty stuff. Eh could kill
Teguk if'n eh want. But eh don't be feelin' like it. Stupid orces... tink dey
so smart. Troll kill Teguk 'fore. I coulds do 't too." He states, before
pausing, "If I you, I not be here. Trust stupid orc too much."

Gumbart blanched and shrunk back when the troll pulled at the iron bar, but
seeing that the troll didn't go ahead, he returns to the gate. There, he looks
slyly at the troll and nods, slowly. "You are of course a mighty warrior; I
forgot myself. Forgive me, warrior. I was just wondering why such a mighty
warrior as yourself, whom even the orcs dare not touch, I was wondering why
such a mighty warrior did not want to serve the Eye on his own. I am sure there
are better places to stay. Close to human villages, unguarded peasants, playing
human children and the like... I just wondered why you stayed here when all
your heart desires is there to be had, outside. And the Eye would love to see
the destruction you would bring upon such villagers, don't you think? The Eye
loves to see you destroy things. I know these villages. I know where they are.
They are not defended. And many little humans running around. Very many little
humans."

Puck shrugs slightly, "I do tha' long time. Steal axe from body, run 'round
Mirkwood many many long times. Kill elfies, kill tarkies, kill lotsa stuff. But
not 'cause Eye wanted me to. And eh don't leave 'cause Nazgul not like me
leave. I not feel like dyin', an' Nazgul coulds kill me sure as sun. But some
Nazgul not too bad... maybe. Nazgul wise. Know lotsa stuff. Smart. Dey know
if'n I run 'way, an' they kill me just 'cause I run 'way."

Puck smiles again, after a moment. "Puck got lotsa purty stuff. Got purty stuff
from elfie. Elfies got lotsa purty stuff. Purty little green stuff, an' stuff
ya don't see some times. Emer... eh dunno. Purty tho'." He shrugs, "But they
purty. Purty stuff good."