Dark Lord Rob's DarkForce Parting Advice      "Then I suppose your business with me is at an end," The Dark Lord said. "If you'll excuse me, the dog needs a walk and I do believe it's nearly time for South Park. And, of course, you all have a bit of planning to do."      Nathan stood up. "Not to be rude or anything, but we'll be back."      "Oh, I was hoping." The Dark Lord sounded a bit sarcastic... but also a bit genuine. Genuinely sarcastic? "And of course I want to hear all about your 'adventures' among the Imminent Eschatologists." Huh? "Now, don't let me say it hasn't been fun, 'cause it has, more than you know. Keeper will escort you out."      The mastiff, who had seemingly disappeared while we were watching the fun on TV, suddenly barked behind us. Loud! I gotta tell you, I jumped right outta my seat. And in the instant that we were distracted the Dark Lord slipped away.      "Can you believe that?" Shana said, getting up. "Oldest trick in the book."      "What book?" I said.      "The Necronomicon," Nathan said, wiggling his fingers in the air all spookily. We all laughed, but then the mastiff, Keeper, apparently not a very patient sort, grabbed Nathan's sleeve in his mouth and gave an insistent tug. Since it looked like the dog was big enough to swallow the whole arm, that got Nathan's attention.      We followed the dog to the corridor we had entered through, but before we could reach the egress wham! the Dark Lord reappeared out of a darkened side room.     "Almost forgot." he said. "A few things." He held out a hand. Dangling from one finger was a pendant dangling on a leather cord. "This is for Nathan. A talisman. You'll know when you need it. And wear it, even if only so you can say, 'Hey man, I didn't need that thing after all.'"      He turned to Maggie. "For you, a word: History." Maggie looked befuddled. Her eyes cross a bit sometimes, though she's really kinda pretty.      To Shana, he gave a small blue-black feather. "You'll know what to do with this."      She looked even more befuddled than Maggie.      And finally, my turn. I was kinda hoping for a twenty or at least a soda, but he just said, "Never turn your back on the devil." That again.      Then he held the door open and we stepped out into the night. "Imminent Eschatologists are people who believe that the Second Coming and the prophesied battle between Heaven and Hell is due to happen any day now," Shana said, to me.      "I knew that!" I lied.      Everyone laughed. God, Shana's cute! Next: We Meet the Guardians