[Mailanka]

I once met Steve Jackson as a convention in Germany. He was giving out autographs. I brought the only non-Munchkin SJGames product. He looked up when he saw it and I looked back at him. After a moment of silence, I pulled out a small bottle of scotch, a nice vintage, and he regarded quietly before nodding.

We met an hour later in the back of the convention hall. The roar of the crowd died down to a dull roar back there, and the facade of the convention gave way to concrete and exposed cables. We sat in creaking plastic chairs and I poured the whiskey into plastic cups. I let him savor his first sip before asking.

"So, the illuminati?"

He swirled his whiskey patiently, and then lifted those wise eyes to me and explained "fnord."

And I understood.