A pack of thirty survivors of Tihar gathered on Megabyte's familiar open space on the outskirts of Bhaktapur. Fortunately, because it was Saturday, or the festival was still winding down, there were no driving schools in action which meant no clouds of dust.

The hare announced six checks with two holds. They also promised NO false trails, just a false holding check. The pack set off south across the field to cross the main road before first paper appeared. The trail or what there was of it, paper being thin and the locals' rubbish thick, went gradually uphill to the first check where The Fox found paper going east. But it soon ran out, and the first suspicions of hare duplicity began to surface. Paper was eventually found running west to a hold at check 2. The GM, Sideways, Krishna and Nils searched west and found a blob of paper. But no more, despite the most industrious investigations. They returned to the check to find the pack gone west. Continuing on a path with no paper they eventually caught up with the walkers. Then Sideways disappeared along another trail of paper which ran out. The GM also fell for this one. Again a retreat to catch up with the rest at check 3. Front runners went a long way west before the impressively lucky virgin Steffan found the way forward along a kulo through rice fields. Paper headed down to a river bank where The Fox took up the running and led the pack on and back up to the kulo to holding check 4. But a cross over the circles showed it to be the false check. The real one was just up the hill where shortcutters had already gathered. Out of the check The Fox again picked up paper on the same kulo but was soon led off uphill and off route. The GM continued and came upon the next check. He also found the way out downhill to the bank of the smelly Hanumante River and along to the main road where paper ran out. Mad Cow looked along the other side of the road and found it again. Steffan and the GM took up the running through vegetable fields where paths were tricky due to irrigation pipes following and crossing them, and tripwires of trodden barbed wire fence. The GM took a wrong turn and watched others turning off for home. Finally a straight run in back to the cars. Goodness knows where check 6 was.

Following distribution of clay saucers containing the hares' Newari rakshi, which had to be drunk quickly before it evaporated, it took even greater exhortations by the GM to call the circle to order. Hares Megabyte, Gyanendra, and Premila were caroused for a fine run which the Cow's Mad Hat awarded a 9.7. Virgin Steffan was given his due; the hash hopes to see him and his Bhutanese Newari wife at future events. He drank together with virgin Rosie, another in the long line of pretty Newari maidens of Megabyte's acquaintance. How does he do it? - and in front of his wife! The Myers family got their returnees cup, having been away for several weeks getting over their first outing with the HHHH.

A well-behaved pack had given the GM few excuses for bad behaviour awards. The main contenders were the Tegmos, who had driven away immediately the circle formed - although they did leave some nice snacks. But The Fox helped out by admitting that he had followed all the hare's false trails. He was duly awarded. Rosie received a mug for getting round on three inch heels. We all hope that the sores on her ankles will heal before next week. Megabyte's didi was given a beer for her provision of the rakshi and Newari snacks. Obviously accustomed to her own strong stuff she put it away like water.

There was only one true challenger for the Hashshit. Megabyte accepted it for misinformation, for marking the end of his false trails with Newari crosses (which do NOT involve the spreading of hash paper), and for laying what to the GM's knowledge is the first ever HHHH false holding check. He probably started on the rakshi before setting the run.

OnOn

Rotter