{"id":876,"date":"2005-04-20T23:13:58","date_gmt":"2005-04-20T22:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/shadowrun\/?page_id=876"},"modified":"2005-04-20T23:13:58","modified_gmt":"2005-04-20T22:13:58","slug":"wyrms-talk","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/sr-inspi\/nouvelles\/dunkelzahn-dragon-mediatique\/wyrms-talk\/","title":{"rendered":"Wyrm’s Talk"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\u00a0Cette nouvelle \u00e0 \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9crite par Tom Dowd en 1991. Elle fait suite aux \u00e9venements d\u00e9crits dans la campagne Harlequin<\/cite>, o\u00f9 ce dernier subtilise Jane Foster \u2013 la fille d\u2019Ehran \u2013 \u00e0 ce dernier. Le titre de la nouvelle vient du titre du m\u00eame nom de l\u2019\u00e9mission semestrielle de Dunkelzahn sur la trid\u00e9o publique.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00ab\u00a0There\u2019s a dragon here to see you,\u00a0\u00bb I said evenly.<\/p>\n

He glanced up casually from either the papers strewn about the coffee table or the data-screen lying on top of them; I couldn\u2019t tell which. The slice of pizza in his hand dripped grease onto the pile. \u00ab\u00a0Oh,\u00a0\u00bb he asked. \u00ab\u00a0Which one?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0How in God\u2019s name should I know?\u00a0\u00bb I replied. He could be such a pain sometimes. \u00ab\u00a0You haven\u2019t started teaching me that yet.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

He smiled and put the pizza slice down on the table. \u00ab\u00a0Of course, my dear,\u00a0\u00bb he said, standing. \u00ab\u00a0Soon, soon.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0So?\u00a0\u00bb I asked, dropping my hands onto my hips.<\/p>\n

His eyebrow raised. \u00ab\u00a0So?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0There\u2019s a fraggin dragon here to see you!\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

He idly licked some of the grease from his hand. \u00ab\u00a0Well, yes, you just told me that.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

He\u2019d made me promise to stop trying to hit him, but sometimes\u2026. \u00ab\u00a0Do you want to just leave him out there?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0No. Of course not!\u00a0\u00bb he replied. \u00ab\u00a0How could you think that? That would be quite rude. Ask him in.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Don\u2019t you think he\u2019s a little big for the doorways?\u00a0\u00bb I figured that was ultimately a stupid question. In the short time that I\u2019d been with him I\u2019d learned, if nothing else, that the obvious was rarely that and the impossible the norm.<\/p>\n

He tilted his head and smiled in his damnable \u00ab\u00a0I know lots of things you don\u2019t\u00a0\u00bb look. \u00ab\u00a0Why don\u2019t we let him decide, eh?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

I shrugged. \u00ab\u00a0Fine, why don\u2019t we. It\u2019s your repair bill.\u00a0\u00bb I turned and was about to leave the room when a thought occurred to me. I paused, and looked back at him. He was bending down for the pizza slice.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Um, I don\u2019t know what dragons are into,\u00a0\u00bb I said, \u00ab\u00a0but I figure you might want to put some clothes on before he comes in.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

He looked up at me, and then down at himself. \u00ab\u00a0Yes, I suppose,\u00a0\u00bb he said. \u00ab\u00a0But how do you know it\u2019s a he?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Someday I was going to hit him so hard they\u2019d need a closed casket.<\/p>\n

Out back, I paused, straightened my clothes, and walked briskly into the garden. It was sitting there, right where it had landed, curiously watching the poi circling in a nearby shallow pool. Its sapphire and silver scales reflected the late afternoon sun, changing the garden into a Maxfield Parrish painting. The dragon seemed oblivious to my presence, intent instead on the motions of the goldfish. I didn\u2019t want to- was afraid to- disturb it. If I did it would move and-<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Is he home?\u00a0\u00bb it asked. I should have been ready for the speech, I\u2019d heard it when it\u2019d first landed, but I wasn\u2019t. I heard it clearly, but it didn\u2019t move. Nothing on it moved.<\/p>\n

Startled, I took a step back up the flagstone steps. \u00ab\u00a0I\u2026 I mean, yes, yes he is.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0I didn\u2019t mean to frighten you, you know.\u00a0\u00bb Its great head swung slowly toward me. There was a glint of light somewhere deep behind its eyes. It could have swallowed me whole, right then and there, and I\u2019d have never noticed.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0I understand\u2026\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Can I go in? It\u2019s very tiring keeping my tail in the air like this, and this is such a wonderful garden.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

I looked up at its tail suspended a number of stories above me. There were barbs on the end. Giant hooks that could- It was gone\u2026.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0I can go in, then? Yes?\u00a0\u00bb came a strange voice.<\/p>\n

I looked down. The dragon was gone, vanished. In its place stood a young man, younger than me, maybe twenty or so, garbed in a fine Arabian suit of the most beautiful blue silk I had ever seen. His skin was pale, and his features those of Michelangelo\u2019s David. His eyes stood out as a sharp silver and blue sparkle. I laughed, stupidly.<\/p>\n

He smiled. \u00ab\u00a0Oh dear. I\u2019ve startled you again. I am sorry.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

I tried to smile a little myself. \u00ab\u00a0I didn\u2019t know dragons could do that,\u00a0\u00bb I said sheepishly. I\u2019d taken a few more steps backward without realizing it.<\/p>\n

He walked toward me and placed one finger to his lips as he passed. \u00ab\u00a0Please don\u2019t tell anyone. It\u2019s supposed to be a secret.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

More secrets, I thought. No problem. It was sure as hell more interesting than Missouri.<\/p>\n

The modern decor of the house seemed to intrigue him. He questioned me on the creator of every piece of art he saw, but only paused once to lean in for a better look at the Warhol, God knows why. I led him upstairs, and deciding to be grandiose, threw wide the study doors as he entered.<\/p>\n

He grinned, and strode past me. \u00ab\u00a0May I present, Dunkelzahn,\u00a0\u00bb I said as he entered.<\/p>\n

The man the dragon had come to see stood as we entered. He hadn\u2019t cleaned up the room any; it still reeked of sausage and pepperoni, but he had clothed himself in a simple outfit of black boots and denim pants, and one of the white cotton shirts he\u2019d bought the other day. He\u2019d kept his face unpainted.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0My, it\u2019s been some time, hasn\u2019t it?\u00a0\u00bb he said, touching the fingers of his left hand to his chest, just below the heart. I\u2019d seen him do that a few times, but he\u2019d never explained what it meant. I think, however, it meant he was viewing the new arrival as an equal; thank God.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Yes, it has, Harlequin,\u00a0\u00bb replied the dragon, repeating the gesture. \u00ab\u00a0I was pleased to here of the outcome of your chal\u2019han.\u00a0\u00bb Dunkelzahn didn\u2019t turn, but I felt his presence on me for just a moment. Obviously, there were no secrets from him.<\/p>\n

Harlequin grinned. \u00ab\u00a0I\u2019ll bet you were.\u00a0\u00bb He gestured at the black leather mushroom couch across from him. \u00ab\u00a0Won\u2019t you sit down?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

The dragon nodded. \u00ab\u00a0Thank you.\u00a0\u00bb He reached the couch, looked down at it for a moment, and the carefully sat himself. Only after he was fully down and stable, did he lean back. He smiled.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0So, what can I do for you?\u00a0\u00bb inquired Harlequin.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0I take it you are aware of my status?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Harlequin\u2019s head cocked. \u00ab\u00a0You mean as host of Wyrm Talk?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

I laughed to myself. Dunkelzahn had been interviewed by an international media team shortly after reemerging. He\u2019d apparently enjoyed the experience, especially his spontaneous cross-examination of the journalists, so much that he requested his own show from one of the networks. In the intervening years he\u2019d only focused on the idea long enough to have three shows produced. Harlequin and I had watched the show the last time that it had been on. The dragon, obviously enthralled with modern culture, spent the whole program commenting on anything and everything. In a couple of segments he\u2019d taken the idea of confrontational journalism to such an extreme that I suggested the show should have been renamed Wyrm Food.<\/p>\n

Dunkelzahn grinned. \u00ab\u00a0Exactly so. I find the whole concept of media fascinating. Free, unrestricted information exchange. Who would have imagined?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Well, I wouldn\u2019t exactly call it unrestricted,\u00a0\u00bb said Harlequin.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0No,\u00a0\u00bb agreed the dragon \u00ab\u00a0nor would I. Which is exactly why I\u2019m here.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Oh?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0I would like you to be the subject of my next program.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0What!\u00a0\u00bb Harlequin exclaimed, leaping to his feet.<\/p>\n

I laughed aloud and then clamped my hand over my mouth. Harlequin glared at me for a split second, and I\u2019d probably regret it later, but it was such a joy seeing him surprised.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Well, yes,\u00a0\u00bb continued the dragon, \u00ab\u00a0I think you\u2019d make a wonderful guest.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Harlequin ran his hand through his hair as he shook his head. \u00ab\u00a0Of all the things I was expecting to talk about\u2026\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0But, Harlequin, you were always the best storyteller. Just think of how these humans would be enthralled by the things you could tell them! There\u2019s so much they just don\u2019t understand-\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0And I\u2019m certainly not going to tell them!\u00a0\u00bb interrupted Harlequin.<\/p>\n

The dragon tilted his head oddly. \u00ab\u00a0But don\u2019t you think they have a right to know? It is their world, after all.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Harlequin breathed out heavily, his brow furrowed. \u00ab\u00a0You want to just tell them everything? Reveal all the myriad secrets of the universe? You want me to\u2026\u00a0\u00bb He turned toward me, arm extended and fingers twitching madly. \u00ab\u00a0You want me to\u2026\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Spill my guts on global television?\u00a0\u00bb I suggested.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Yes!\u00a0\u00bb He said snapping his fingers, and turning back toward the dragon, who blinked. \u00ab\u00a0Do you want me to spill my guts on television? Open dear Pandora\u2019s box once again?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Well yes,\u00a0\u00bb said the dragon. \u00ab\u00a0Do you realize how confused they must all be? Look at how their world has changed. Don\u2019t you think they have a right to know what all this means?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Harlequin nodded vigorously and moved toward the center of the room gesturing wildly. \u00ab\u00a0Oh course they do!\u00a0\u00bb he said. \u00ab\u00a0But why tell them? Let them figure it out; that\u2019s where all the fun is! The clues are there!\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0The clues\u2026?\u00a0\u00bb the dragon, and I, were baffled.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0In the mystery of life, Dunkelzahn! The world is like a giant tapestry. You start out standing very close to it. There\u2019s a lot there to see, and if you like, you can spend your whole life inspecting that one little section. Some may find that section isn\u2019t enough. If they want, they can step back and see more of the picture. Eventually, they may find themselves standing far enough back that it\u2019s all there hanging before them.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0If you start them standing all the way back, they\u2019ll become confused. They won\u2019t know where to look first. They\u2019ll miss seeing the whole picture.\u00a0\u00bb He finished and folded his arms across his chest, a satisfied smirk on his face. I eyed the dragon, who still looked perplexed.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Don\u2019t you think there are some things they should be warned-\u00a0\u00bb he began.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0You mean like the invae?\u00a0\u00bb Harlequin asked.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0As a beginning, yes,\u00a0\u00bb the dragon told him.<\/p>\n

Harlequin dismissed the thought with a gesture. \u00ab\u00a0They\u2019re of no concern, and in fact they support my point precisely! The humans knew nothing of their coming, but have been dealing with them quite nicely, nonetheless. Spilling our guts-\u00a0\u00bb he nodded to me \u00a0\u00bb-to the humans early would have denied them the discovery! The joy is in the unfolding. Let them marvel at their world, horrific as it may be sometimes. Let\u2019s not reveal the end of the tale before the final page is turned, Dunkelzahn. Allow the story to tell itself.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

The dragon seemed to be staring at the now cold pizza, but I could tell he was lost in thought. Finally, with a sigh, he stood and nodded. \u00ab\u00a0I\u2019ll take that as a no.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Harlequin laughed, glanced down at the ground and shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Thank you for your hospitality,\u00a0\u00bb said Dunkelzahn, moving slowly toward the door.<\/p>\n

Harlequin looked up. \u00ab\u00a0I hope I haven\u2019t fouled up your schedule of guests.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

The dragon raised an eyebrow. \u00ab\u00a0No, not at all. I may ask Lady Brane Deigh of the Daoine Sidhe to speak in you place.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Harlequin\u2019s face stilled. \u00ab\u00a0I wouldn\u2019t.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Oh?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Dunkelzahn, we\u2019ve at least always been cordial.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Very true.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0But I should warn you, there are some of my kind, and your kind, who think that you have told too much already.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Oh?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Your comments about great dragons and dracoforms, for one.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

The dragon nodded. \u00ab\u00a0Yes, I received some\u2026 grief from that.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0Should you start to speak of\u2026 other things\u2026\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Dunkelzahn nodded again. \u00ab\u00a0Thank you for your warning, Harlequin. There are such wonderful stories that could be told.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

Harlequin smiled. \u00ab\u00a0And they will be: in time.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

The dragon touched his fingers to his chest again, and once Harlequin had repeated the gesture, began to walk out of the room. He stopped as he passed me. \u00ab\u00a0It has been a pleasure meeting you, my lady,\u00a0\u00bb he said. \u00ab\u00a0You do your heritage proud.\u00a0\u00bb I smiled, couldn\u2019t think of what to say, and touched my fingers to my chest. He smiled back and returned the gesture.<\/p>\n

I closed the doors behind him as he left, and then turned, leaning back against them. \u00ab\u00a0It\u2019s too bad; I kind of like him.\u00a0\u00bb I said sadly.<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0I do, too,\u00a0\u00bb Harlequin said, looking back down at the papers. \u00ab\u00a0He\u2019s the most reasonable of all of them. It\u2019ll be a shame when we have to destroy him.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

\n

Cette nouvelle est particuli\u00e8rement int\u00e9ressante sur plusieurs points. Elle \u00e9claire le status de Jane Foster, sa relation avec Harlequin (\u00e9galement d\u00e9velopp\u00e9 dans le roman Temps Sans Fin<\/cite>), elle nous montre aussi les relations ambigu\u00ebs entre Harlequin (un elfe immortel) et Dunkelzahn (un grand dragon)\u00a0: bien que proches, ils ne sont pas d\u2019accord sur tout, et l\u2019un reconnait qu\u2019il devra un jour assister ou participer au meurtre de l\u2019autre. Je soupconne \u00e9galement fortement la tirade de Harlequin sur le besoin des humains de tout d\u00e9couvrir par eux-m\u00eame d\u2019\u00eatre en fait une excuse pour le dragon.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

Document cr\u00e9\u00e9 \u00e0 l’origine par Tom Dowd<\/strong> et publi\u00e9 sur shadowrun.fr<\/a> le mercredi 20 avril 2005 par J\u00e9r\u00e9mie Bouillon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Article mis \u00e0 disposition sous licence Copyright FASA<\/em>.<\/p>\n

L’article est d\u00e9clar\u00e9 comme officiel et canon<\/em>, cela veut dire qu’il a \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9crit, valid\u00e9 et g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement publi\u00e9 par un auteur et l’\u00e9diteur officiel de Shadowrun. Attention toutefois, si il est traduit, la traduction<\/em> en elle-m\u00eame n’est pas forc\u00e9ment officielle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Cette nouvelle \u00e0 \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9crite par Tom Dowd en 1991. Elle fait suite aux \u00e9venements d\u00e9crits dans la campagne Harlequin, o\u00f9 ce dernier subtilise Jane Foster \u2013 la fille d\u2019Ehran \u2013 \u00e0 ce dernier. Le titre de la nouvelle vient du titre du m\u00eame nom de l\u2019\u00e9mission semestrielle de Dunkelzahn sur la trid\u00e9o publique. \u00ab\u00a0There\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":842,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-876","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=876"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/876\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.franchouille.fr\/testsr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}